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I 






PHILIP HENSON, 



HE SOUTHERN UNION SPY. 



OF T1IK War oi^^ tiih: Kebellion. 



By GEORGE S. JOHNS. 






ST, 1,01: IS I 

Nf!?i I.V.J nS'KS i'liLVTlvt; Cn 



A. J. CRAWFORD, 

Old Books and Magazines, 

BOUGHT AND SOLD. 

Cor. IQth & Pine Sts., St. Louis, Mo, 

SCHOOL BOOKS WANTED. 




PHILIP HEN80N, THE SOUTHERN UNION SPY. 



PHILIP HENSON, 



The Southern Union Spy. 



The Hitherto Unwritten Eecord of a Hero of 
THE War of the Rebellion. 



By GEORGE S. JOHNS. 



' A brave, fearless and exceedingly valuable scout." — Edwa.hd Hatch, 

Brev, Maj, - OenercU. 
** He performed services that no other man would." — 6. M. Dodge, 

Major- Oeneraf. 
'* He performed deeds which no other man could have 
done successfully." — Samubl Gilbert, 

^ Late Brig. - General, 



ST. LOUIS: 
NIXON-JONES PRINTING CO. 

1887. 



lcC> UnCCt^ 



Xrrt. '^1lD.H(,l,.7f 



i^ iwnrARD cmjEcs urmr . 



Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1887, 

Bt G. a. M. pulliam, 

In the Office of the Librarian of Ck)ngre88 at Washington, D. C. 



EXPLANATORY. 



THIS sketch of Philip Heneon, the Southern Union 
Spy, which is offered to the public was per force 
hastily compiled and hastily written in order that the 
subject of it and the -pages of the late war which it 
reveals for the first time might be brought before the 
veterans of the conflict to whom they are of the 
deepest interest. The materials were gathered and 
the work completed in the leisure time of four days 
so that it will be recognized readily that full investiga- 
tion and careful arrangement were impossible. The 
salient points only are presented leaving to \ future 
time the further development of materials of which 
this is merely a tithe. This explanation of the haste 
which is apparent in its pages and the blunders which 
may have crept in is due the readers from the writer. 

St. Louis, Mo. 
September 21, 1887. 



CONTENTS. 



PAQF. 
CHAPTER I. 

The Unsung Heroes 5 

CHAPTER II. . 
A Southern Union Spy 10 

CHAPTER III. 
The Training op a Scout 16 

CHAPTER IV. 
Entering on His Work .23 

CHAPTER V. 
The Oath Of a Spy 29 

CHAPTER VI. 
A Shrewd Scheme .34 

CHAPTER VII. 
A Scrap with Gen. Forrest 40 

CHAPTER VIII. 
A Dash for Life 46 

CHAPTER IX. 
In the Hands of the Bandits 54 

CHAPTER X. 
By Field and Flood 58 

CHAPTER XI. 
The Longest Trip on Record 62 

CHAPTER XII. 
In the Toils 69 

CHAPTER XIIL 
In a Southern War Prison 75 

CHAPTER XIV. 
Some Convincing Proofs 87 



THE SOUTHERN UNION SPY. 



CHAPTER I. 

THE UNSUNG HEROES. 

fllHE unsung heroes and the unwritten pages of the 
-'- war of tho rebellion — what an array of gallant 
men and brave deeds rise up at the words ! 

Its great generals, the courageous and skillful lead- 
ers, the stupendous events of that conflict which shook 
the Nation to its center and steeped this fair land in 
the blood of thousands of true men have had their 
historians, but who shall write of those other heroes, 
the men who did not lead armies nor plan battles, but 
who saved armies and won battles nevertheless? 

The soldier is sustained in battle by the excitement 
of the moment, by ambition and thirst for glory, by 
the expected plaudits of his fellow-soldiers and his 
commander, and he is girt about by the association and 
bracing examples of others. He rushes into the fray 
side by side with his comrades in a conflict for honors, 
with the eyes of his leader and of his brothers fixed 
on him. There is every stimulus to deeds of prowess 
and to the exhibition of personal bravery.. When 

5 



6 THE SOUTHERN UNION SPT. 

this bravery is shown it is none the less to his credit 
that it has been strengthened by such circumstances. 

But what of him who has no such spurs? Who, 
calmly, quietly, fearlessly takes his life in his hand ; 
who, not only faces his enemies, but goes into their 
midst with the full knowledge that the slightest blun- 
der, the smallest misstep, the deviation from the right 
line by one jot means certain death ; who confronts 
death not with the blood hurtling through his veins, 
and with the war cry ringing in his ears, but in cold 
blood, knowing well his danger; who risks his life, 
not in open, honorable combat, but in secret by the 
hand of the assassin, on the impulse of an individual 
or by the mere freak of a hostile leader, and this 
death, too, the ignominious punishment of a common 
felon ? 

These are the men who sleep in unknown and un- 
marked graves, or living are remembered, perhaps, 
only by the few who recognized their value and knew 
their magnificent service to the country; who trustecl 
their fame, their fortunes, their reputations and the 
lives of thousands of soldiers in their hands, assured 
that their loyalty would never betray a secret nor 
prove false to the cause for which they labored. The 
bodies of many of them swung in the breeze or lay 
riddled with bullets in lonely spots, ghastly warnings 
of the fate reserved for him who proved too zealous, 
or, for a moment, relaxed that vigilance which was the 
price of life. The bones of many have bleached in the 
sun and rain and have crumbled into dust, as the 



THE UNSUNG HEROES. 7 

years rolled on that sunk them and their cruel fate • 
deeper into the oblivion of the past. 

They were the men of mystery, whose very mission 
precluded all recognition by their associates. Their 
work was done alone, without aid or companionship, 
without confederates or friends ; who forsook wives, 
children, brothers, and all the ties that hold dear, to 
do their duty. They were the men of boots, spurs and^ 
saddle, who never slept without a haunting vision of 
death hovering over them ; who ate and rested and 
walked and rode with danger as a constant companion; 
men who needed nerves of iron, muscles of steel, and 
the cunning of serpents ; who carried secrets that to 
keep was death and to reveal was the destruction per- 
haps of thousands; who carried secrets that were 
constant menaces against their safety and very exist- 
ence. 

What tales could be told of hair-breadth escapes, of 
thrilling experiences, of deeds of daring and feats al- 
most superhuman in their accomplishment of the appar- 
ently impossible, by lips that were long since sealed I 
what horrible descriptions of suffering, abuse, con- 
tumely and torture that were the rewards of fidelity 
could be gleaned from prison walls, manacles and 
chains, had they tongues ? 

These were the men whose services were of inestim- 
able worth to the Union, who contributed more indi- 
vidually to its salvation than any other class of men, 
and at far greater risk. 

And yet, what is known of them ? 



8 THE SOUTHERN UNION SPY. 

Now and then some old man dies, and the news- 
papers contain a sketch of a career which teems with 
brilliant deeds, and which partakes, in its adventurous 
experiences and wonderful feats, more of the char- 
acter of fiction than of reality. Now and then a liv- 
ing man is found who has a career that puts him in the 
list of heroes, but who, perhaps, is not conscious of 

^having done more than any other man would do, or 
whose modesty restrains from trumpeting his deeds to 
the world. 

It is in the lives of such men that the unwritten 
pages of the great war of the rebellion are found, and 
these pages, if revealed, would throw more light on its 
important events, on the subject of how battles were 
lost and won, and how brilliant achievements were 
made possible, than has already been written. These 

' are the pages that tell of the plans of battles, of the 
preliminary work that decided eventualities, that re- 
veal the machinery, the inner workings of the stupen- 
dous movements that decided the conflict. And they 
are the pages that are the most fascinating because 
they treat of methods, of means, of personal charac- 
ter and prowess. Until they ai-e written the history of 
the great struggle will be incomplete. 

It is not necessary to name the class of men who are 
referred to. The soldiers know them by the results 
gained through their aid and by their experiences told 
in camp; the commanders know them by personal ac- 

* quaintance, by loyalty often tried and never found 
wanting; by their skill, shrewdness, courage; by their 



THE UNSUNG HEROES. 9 

work without which their best laid plans were defeated, 
and with which their brilliant successes were gained. 
They speak of them with honor and admiration. 

They are the scouts, the spies, if you will, too often 
referred to as such, with ignominy, and ignominy 
borne for their country's sake. They were the bul- 
warks, the defense of the Union, without whom vic- 
tory would frequently be impossible. 



10 THE SOUTHERN UNION SPY. 



CHAPTER II. 



A SOUTHERN UNION SPY. 



IT IS such a hero who is the subject of this sketch, 
and who is one of the few living representatives of 
the class. 

His heroism is of that quiet, modest kind that is 
unconscious of itself; that does great deeds and does 
not know they are out of the ordinary; that tells of 
them as if they were the common acts of every day 
life. His nature is of that honest, strong-fibred, 
staunch type, full of native shrewdness and unswerv- 
ing integrity which looks clear-eyed along the path of 
duty and sees no obstacle big enough to cause a mo- 
ment's hesitation in the way; that faces danger with 
the cool intrepidity that is a stranger to fear ; that 
moves straight on where other men stop and tremble, 
or even flee for their lives; that regards personal 
fame and honor so little that when a thing is done, no 
matter how wonderful or daring or admirable it may 
be, it is done with, and that is an end of it, leaving to 
others the sounding of its praises. 

This is a description of the character of Philip 
Henson, the Southern Union Spy, that every man 
who ever knew him well, every soldier who was 
acquainted with his record, and every commander who 



A SOUTHERN UNION SPY. 11 

used and trusted him and profited by his shrewdness 
and bravery, will endorse without a qualification. 

His claim to the title of hero is based on a record 
that has perhaps never been equalled in the annals of 
war; by achievements which in fiction would be put 
down as the wildest and most fanciful imagination, 
and in reality surpass belief. His career is indeed re- 
markable and, if it were not proved beyond a doubt by 
the most indubitable evidence, would be considered 
absurdly incredible. He has passed through dangers 
and thrilling experiences unscathed and unshaken, 
which would have daunted the courage and whitened 
the hair of even extraordinary men. That he is alive 
to-day is little short of the miraculous. 

He IS undoubtedly, and this assertion is made with 
all candor and will be borne out by everyone who 
came in contact with him and had means of knowing 
what he did, one of the heroic and even picturesquely 
romantic figures of the late war. That he is not more 
prominent in its annals and now in the fame which is 
his due is owing to his own modesty and unconscious- 
ness of extraordinary achievement, and to the fact 
that his life since the war has been spent among south- 
ern people where, to have spoken of loyalty to the 
Union, or of deeds done in her service before the 
wounds were healed, would have been banishment, at 
least, and in all probability a worse fate. 

Philip Henson occupies an unique position. He 
was a Southern man, born in the South, reared in the 
South, married in the South, with all his ties, sympa- 



12 THE SOUTHERN UNION SPY. 

thies and interests in the South, and yet he was a 
loyal Union man, and contributed services for the 
cause of the Union, such as few men have given. He 
had a brother in the rebel array. It seems almost 
providential that such should have been the case, be- 
cause the very circumstances which militated most 
against his loyalty were the circumstances which made 
him of the greatest value to the Union cause, and 
which enabled him to occupy the singular position 
which he did occupy. Without the inestimable serv- 
ice which he gave to the federal commanders the re- 
sult in the territory in which his work was done would 
have been different. 

** Colonel " Henson, the title which was bestowed 
upon him by soldiers and citizens, although he had no 
commission, or as he was known to the officers under 
whom he served, Phil, the Scout, is a striking •figure 
now in his advanced age. 

In addition to the peculiarity of his mission and of 
the field he covered nature has marked him out by 
distinguishing features. His native qualities have al- 
ready Been indicated. They are, wonderful shrewdness 
and cool, calm fearlessness, which no danger can 
shake ; quiet, but determined movements, a habijt of 
saying little and keeping his counsel, inexhaustible re- 
sources and quickness to decide ; yet even these char- 
acteristics are veiled by apparent slowness and stolidity 
which throw one off guard and have been the means 
of saving him in many close shaves where an outwardly 
smarter and more brilliant man would have given rise 



A SOUTHERN UNION SPY, 13 

to suspicion, and would have lost his life. He has the 
very qualities which fitted him for the work he had to 
perform. 

It is his personal appearance, however, which is 
even more striking. He is tall, straight, active and 
muscular, measuring six feet two inches in height, and 
without a pound of superfluous flesh on his frame. 

His most distinguishing feature is yet to be men- 
tioned, and there are few persons perhaps who would 
be convinced of the fact without ocular proof, but it is 
the truth that Col. Henson has the longest beard in 
the world, measuring six feet four inches in length. 
This is a marvelous beard, and when Col. Henson 
stands erect and allows his beard to hang untrammeled 
it sweeps the floor, fully six inches of it resting on the 
carpet. This alone makes him a marked figure any- 
where, and what is even more remarkable, it is the re- 
sult of only ten years' growth. It is possible that 
Col. Henson may some time reveal the secret of hir- 
sute cultivation, which has reached such a wonderful 
result in so short a period, but at present it is a secret 
known only to himself. 

But to return to the career of the scout. The rec- 
ords of the War Department, the reports of officers, 
and the reminiscences of Col. Henson himself, drawn 
out only in casual conversation and by the most adroit 
questioning, reveal an experience during the war that 
is without a parallel. His period of service covered 
nearly two years, from July 28, 1862, to May 20, 1864, 
when his arrest by rebel soldiers put an end to his 



14 THfi SOttTHERN tJNlOK SPY. 

service as a scout and transferred him from the dan- 
gers, vicissitudes and active work of the field to the 
•constant menace of death, the tortures, horrible suf- 
ferings, contemptuous hatred and vile abuse of a Con- 
federate prison, where he spent nine months filled 
with unutterable cruelty, where every moment threat- 
ened to be his last. 

No romance of Dumas or of Victor Hugo is fuller 
of exciting incidents or of thrilling adventures than 
the years which saw Col. Benson's entrance into ser- 
vice and his escape from prison. It was a succession 
of heroic achievements, of shrewd and successful 
schemes to obtain information from the enemy, of ar- 
rests under suspicion, of wonderful escapes from the 
fate of spies, of daring deeds, of danger from assas- 
sination bravely faced and yet cunningly avoided, of 
dual roles played with consummate skill, of escapes 
from the hands of enraged Confederate mobs and sol- 
diers, of contumely and abuse which are incredible, of 
confinement in ''sweat-boxes," of manacles forged to 
his ankles and wrists and chained to anchors and mon- 
strous iron balls. The Spanish inquisition could 
scarcely exceed the treatment to which the captured 
scout was subjected, and yet his part had been played 
so well that the smallest evidence which would have 
been sufficient to have condemned him to death was 
not found. 

During his service and confinement, Col. Henson 
spent a fortune, paying his way into and out of the 
Confederate lines, and paying for his safety while im- 



A SOtJTHfiRN UKION SPV. 15 

prisoned. The sum he expended in these ways is es- 
timated at not less than $60,0C0, and yet while he 
came out of the war impoverished, and is struggling for 
a living in his old age, and still bears on his ankles the 
marks of the manacles, and suffers pain on account of 
it, the ingratitude of republics is shown by the fact that 
he has never received a dollar of compensation for his 
losses, his services or his sufferings. 

The grand old Commander, Gen. Grant, who has 
passed to the silent majority, unknowingly compli- 
mented 'the scout once by writing to Gen. Dodge, and 
referring to the remarkable accuracy of his informa- 
tion with regard to the enemy, asked the name of the 
man who got it for him. 

Gen. Samuel E. Gilbert wrote of Col. Henson, that 
he ** performed deeds that no other man could have 
performed successfully," and other things equally ex- 
pressive of high admiration. 

Another prominent and gallant commander denomi- 
nated him the '* bravest of the brave", and Gen. 
Dodge, Gen. Edward Hatch, and others who knew the 
magnificent qualities of the man, have hastened to 
commend and honor him for his services. 

This is only the brief prelude, the incomplete out- 
line of a life which is full of the fascinating charm of 
daring adventure. 



16 THE SOUTHERN UNION SPY. 

CHAPTER III. 

THE TRAINING OF A SCOUT. 

DHILIP HENSON was born to poverty and was bred 
in toil and hardship. His was not the cradle of 
luxury, but he was early put to the school of adversity 
and was trained to a habit of courage and self-reliance 
from his youth. 

His childhood and youth were spent among pioneers 
and Indians, and his young manhood was tested in the 
then wilds of the far West and Southwest among hos- 
tile savages. 

His birthplace was Gunter's Landing, Jackson Co., 
Ala., at the time of this interesting event, which 
occurred Dec. 28, 1827, in Indian Territory, and in- 
habited by the Creeks and Cherokees. The blood of 
three sturdy peoples run in his veins. On his father's 
side Scotch and Holland Dutch, and on his mother's 
side Irish, the boy had inexhaustible resources from 
which to draw the qualities which afterwards distin- 
guished him. His father was a man of ability and of 
great influence over the Indians, and was respected and 
admired. He was selected as one of the commission- 
ers to remove the tribes to the present Indian Terri- 
tory in 1836, and he accomplished the work with such 
eminent success and with so much satisfaction to the 
red men that they never forgot him and proved their 
friendship afterwards to his son« 



THE TRAINING OF A SCOUT. 17 

All the education young Henson received was ob- 
tained at the Indian Mission School taught by William 
Potter, but he got strong muscles and an active habit 
by association in work and play with the Indian boys. 
He got the very training which was to be of greatest 
use to him. 

When he was 12 years of age his father died, leaving 
his mother a widow with seven children. Philip was 
the fourth child, three being older and three younger 
than he, but even at this early age he was compelled 
to earn his own living. 

His first employment, singularly enough, was in the 
line of his after mission and was of the hard and dan- 
gerous kind. This boy of a dozen years accepted a 
place which no one else could be found to accept, be- 
cause the risk involved was so great, and he never 
failed to carry out his contract. It was to carry the 
mails from Huntsville, Ala., to Ealyton, which is now 
the magic city of Birmingham, Every trip back and 
forth meant a week of hard riding in a country which 
was then a wilderness, inhabited chiefly by Indians and 
wihl beasts. Only a few settlers were scattered over 
it, and the boy scarcely ever saw the face of a white 
man from the beginning to the end of the journey. 
The boy never started without a probability staring 
him in the face that he would never return, that some 
revengeful or thieving Indian would end his young 
life with knife or bullet, or that an encounter with a 
bear, with the wolves or with a panther, all of which 
infested the country, might bring him to a horrible 



18 THE SOUTHERN UNION SPY. 

death. Yet he never flinched, but calmly and cheer- 
fully went on his way as any other boy would start out 
on his daily trip to school. 

For two years he continued in the employ meot 
of the mail contractor, Daniel Seavers, and then re- 
turned home to help his widowed mother on the farm. 
Several years were spent in this, and the boy grew 
to be a tall, active, independent youth. Again he 
started out for himself and engaged to William Edwards 
and Wilson Cornelius, two stock traders, to take a herd 
of beef cattle to Augusta, Ga. The work was done, 
but the herders lost all they had, and left their 
herdsman in Augusta without a cent of compensation 
and with no money with which to get home. This 
was nothing to an active young man like Philip 
Henson. He worked his way on the railroad to 
Kingston, Ga., but that was as far as he could go in 
this way, and he was still 100 miles from home. It 
was imperative that he do something, and Capt. Black, 
the depot agent, gave him work cutting pine knots for 
the railroad at 25 cents a day. 

He reached home, but no humdrum life of the farm 
could satisfy his adventurous spirit, and after one year 
we find him restlessly looking toward the boundless 
West. The widow's land was poor and scarcely pro- 
duced a living. All the wordly possessions of young 
Henson were a colt and an Indian pony. He sold the 
first and mounted the second for his westward journey 
with just $9 as the result of the transaction in his 



THE TRAINING OF A SCOUT. 19 

pocket. He reached Marsiiall County, Miss., with 
seventy-five cents in his pocket. 

There was a tavern at the place kept by one Sher- 
rerd Low. The young man wanted a night's lodging 
and food, and told the landlord that he had but 
seventy -five cents. 

** Get ofi" your pony," said the man, ''and come 
in.'' 

In the morning the good-hearted landlord gave him 
back thii ty-tive cents, remarking that he would need 
it before he got through. He told Mr. Low that he 
wanted work, but he had none for him and leaving his 
pony at the tavern, to be called for, he started out 
afoot to seek it. He knew not a soul in that country, 
but he had a brave heart, and a Mr. Cado Miller, who 
recognized the character of the young man, took him 
in and treated him as a father would. Although hav- 
ing no actual need for his services, he made him over- 
seer of his plantation. A year was spent wita Mr. 
Miller and another year in the same capacity with a 
Mr. William Smith and young Henson wanted to visit 
his family. The net result of his two years of labor 
amounted to a fine horse, saddle and bridle, and $160 
in cash. He journeyed to North Alabama, where his 
mother lived, and gave her and his younger brothers 
and sisters all the money he had earned except just 
enough to take him to South Alabama, for which he 
soon started. 

His firmness and kindly, yet determined character, 
made hini a fine manager of negro labor even at this 



20 THE SOUTHERN UNION SPY. 

early age and he readily found employment in Perry 
county, with a Mr. Thomas Turnbow, as overseer. 
He made a success of the business and made some 
money. But the employment did not suit and again 
the longing for activity and adventure in the world 
took possession of him. The West was then being 
opened up and the richness of its soil and opportu- 
nities to make money were the themes of conversation 
everywhere. 

In 1856, when 29 years of age, he started for Kansas. 
The State was then making history and was in the nciidst 
of her struggle for independence of Southern dom- 
ination and freedom of her soil from the taint of slav- 
ery. It was then the theater of exciting events which 
were eventually to kindle the war. The border 
rutfians were overrunning it and the settlers were 
fighting for the right of honest government and the 
choice of their own leaders. It was a good school to 
prepare for the great struggle impending. Young 
Henson met Gen. James Lane, and the famous Aboli- 
tionist, John Brown, who was then dreaming of and 
preparing for his i)lans to free the slaves. 

After a short stay in Kansas the traveler went South 
to the Indian nation, the Indians then being in far 
more savage condition than at present. Some were 
civilized partly, and some were not, but Henson mixed 
with all kinSs and was thrown with fifteen or twenty 
different tribes. He met many Indian? who knew his 
father as the commissioner who had moved them 
twenty years before. They treated him with the 



THE TBAINING OF A SCOUT. 21 

utmost kindness, and would not only refuse any pay 
for services, but strove to do everything in their power 
to help him. 

A year in Kansas and the Indian Territory created 
a desire to go still further South and West so that with 
a few associates, the young man made a trip into 
Texas. Traveling in those days in the far West meant 
the enduring of terrible hardships and the maintaining 
of constant vigilance, with frequent encounters with 
savage Comanches and other uncivilized tribes of In- 
dians. Several of the party were wounded, but not 
one was lost when the settlement was again reached. 

In the latter part of 1857 a company of intrepid 
young men organized to go to New Mexico, then 
known to many as the Mesilla Valley. Young Hen- 
son was one of them, and his reputation among his 
associates may be judged by the fact that he was 
made leader of the expedition and captain of the com- 
pany. An expedition of this kind meant fighting. 
These were exciting times when sleep meant death, 
and the relaxation of a moment might bring down a 
horde of bloodthirsty savages. Captain Honson and 
his men fought their way through. Time and again 
they were surrounded, and the prospects looked 
dark for the little band, but its leader was a man of 
nerve and cool courage and the hearts of the men 
were brave. Many a redskin spotted the plain 
through their trusty rifles. To flinch meant death 
and the band pushed forward with desperate resolve 
imtil El Paso was reached and it was found that the 



22 THE SOUTHERN UNION SPY. 

attacks of the savages had so crippled it that further 
progress was impossible. Five men were so severely 
wounded as to be unable to proceed, so the party dis- 
banded, each man taking care of himself. 

.In the hist month of the year, Capt. Henson turned 
his face homeward and repassing the dangers and 
hardships which had before beset him made the stu- 
pendous journey through the wilderness and back into 
Alabama. 

Three months were consumed in the arduous jour- 
ney, and it was in February, 1858, that he found him- 
self in Selma. Once more he worked for his old 
friend and employer, Turnbow, and again started for 
the West. This time he did not get beyond Missis- 
sippi, and landed in a little town called Bienzi, about 
fifteen miles south of Corinth, on August 28 of the 
same year. 

Little did he reckon then that this was the center of 
those stirring events in which he was called to take so 
prominent a part a few years later. There was no 
thought of war then and the young traveler who had 
been through so many exciting experiences settled 
down, as he thought, for life. It was the tame occu- 
pation of selling dry goods that the young hero fell 
into, and over the counter of the store of Lowery & 
Gibson for three years he bought and sold. The 
three years saw him advance from a clerk to be man- 
ager of the store. These three years too were not 
without excitement of a stormy kind. Of that excite- 
ment there is much of interest regarding our yoUng 
clerk to be said. 



ENTERING ON HIS WORK. 23 

CHAPTER IV. 

ENTERING ON HIS WORK. 

WHO that lived in either the North or South does not 
remember vividly the years 1859, 1860 and 1861? 

The South particularly was agitated from center to 
circumference; men, women and even children were 
fired with a common impulse. Secession was the all 
absorbing topic and dreams of independence of Nor- 
thern sentiment and attempted domination was in 
every one's head. Away with the Union and up with 
the Southern Confederacy was the cry. To be a 
Southern man was to be a secessionist, of course, but 
here and there were loyal men and women who stood 
staunchly for the Union cause. 

What of our dry goods clerk? Was he fired with 
the ambition to bear a gun in defense of slavery and 
against the Government that had been founded by the 
blood of the fathers of liberty ? 

Strangely enough. No. There is a singular fact to 
be recorded here which is opposed to all rules concern- 
ing the formation of character and opinions. Our 
Henson's father was a Jackson Democrat, but his son 
did not follow in his footsteps. He grew up to be an 
old time Henry Clay Whig and drew his political 
pabulum from the Knoxville Whig until political 
unimosity refused to allow it to be circulated. 



24 THE SOUTHERN UNION SFT. 

He believed in the National compact and in the pres- 
ervation of the Union of the States. This was rank 
heresy, bnt he clung to it firmly and persistently as 
an independent, fearless man. 

And now came the climax when the question of 
fighting against his principles pressed on him.- He was 
married in February, 1861, to Celestine Hutchinson. 
The Confederate government at that time was forcing 
all able-bodied men into service and would take few 
excuses from any who could handle guns. 

Then the clerk and his new wife had a talk over 
the whole matter. She was in thorough sympathy 
with him and they concluded he had better find some 
better business than clerking. His judgment was 
accurate and he saw that he must find something 
which would save him for a time from conscription. 
The only chance was to get an overseer's position, 
and having experience in that line he was not long in 
obtaining a place. He found exactly the right man 
in Mr. Moore McCauley, an influential planter, of 
broad and liberal views, who had won the respect and 
admiration of his neighbors. The Confederate Con- 
gress soon after passed a law giving every planter 
possessing a certain number of negroes the privilege 
of keeping an overseer. This was Henson's salvation, 
and he was thus saved from beinoj forced into wearing 
a grey uniform. 

The reality of war was not long in making its 
appearance around Corinth. The rebels evacuated 
the town and the Federal forces pushed their way 



ENTERING ON HIS WORK. 25 

toward it. Gen. Grant came up from Fort Donelson. 
McCauley was a secessionist, and the coming of the 
Yankees alarmed him so that he fled to Bolivar, Tenn. 
Before going he acted squarely to his overseer. He 
told him he was going and advised him to get out, as 
he said the Yankees would have no use for overseers, 
and it might go hard with him if he stayed. 

Hensondidnot get out, but remained where he was. 
He was not the running kind and then he felt that 
his friends were with the other side. McCauley left 
everything in his care with instructions to do the best 
he could with his property. 

Overseer Henson soon made the acquaintance of 
Gen. Grant. The troops found him at home about 
five miles from Corinth and sent him through the 
lines to headquarters. The Old Commander, then just 
entering on his career of victory, received him kindly, 
but questioned him closely. 

'* Why are you not in the rebel army?" asked the 
General, surprised to find an able-bodied man without 
the grey uniform. 

" Because," was the blunt reply, <<I am an over- 
seer and am exempted and am not a rebel." 

** Who do you work for?" 

"Mr. McCauley?" 

*< Where is he?" 

<< At Bolivar, Tenn." 

'« What did he go there for?" 

*« Because he was afraid he might be troubled by 
the Union soldiers," 



26 THE 80UTHEHN UNION 8PT. 

The General wrote an order and handing it to Henson 
said, " This will see you out of the lines and will pro- 
tect you from injury. Send word to McCauIey that 
if he is not at home within a week I will burn every- 
thing he has. Don't forget to send him word." 

This was the first meeting with Gen. Grant and he 
never forgot it. Mr. McCauley was at home within 
the specified time and his overseer went to Gen. Grant 
again. The General gave the planter permission to 
remain at home without molestation. 

Gen. Grant did not stay long at Corinth, but with the 
main body of the army moved out, leaving Gen. Rose- 
crans in command. Before Gen. Grant left, however, 
he issued an order that every one should take the oath 
of allegiance. It meant protection and many Southern 
sympathizers took it for this reason. Henson took it 
because he believed in it. 

In July, 1862, the scout did his first work for the 
army. He was thoroughly familiar with the country 
around Corinth, and Maj. W. W. Truesdale, Chief of 
Scouts under Gen.Rosecrans, and Dr. Russell engaged 
him to buy up all the cotton around Corinth. He 
made a brilliant success of his labor, and Maj. Trues- 
dale, discovering how capable and shrewd he was, em- 
ployed him as a scout to get all the information he 
could about the Confederate forces and plans. 

This was the beginning of a service which grew in 
importance and value as the war progressed, and as 
Col. Henson gained experience in his new role. In a 
small way at first, and very cautiously to avoid all 



ENTERING^ON HIS WORK. 27 

suspicion, he began his labors which were to be at- 
tended with so much danger and hardship, and which 
were pregnant with good results for the Federal arms. 
One principle Col. Henson laid down in the begin- 
ning, and that was to be loyal and faithful to his com- 
manders. • Another equally important to his own safety 
and usefulness he always observed, and that was to 
tell the truth. In this respect he treated rebels and 
Union men alike, and was never known to be caught 
in a lie or in even the slightest exagore ration or false- 
hood. He had it thoroughly understood with the 
Federal oflScers, that while he would betray no secrets, 
and would tell as little as possible to gain his ends, he 
would never attempt to deceive or to lie about their 
forces. In this way he gained and* kept the confi- 
dence of his Union leaders and of his rebel friends. It 
was the secret of his prolonged sticcess. 

His first work was to discover the plans of Gen. 
Sterling Price, and passing through the lines to the 
headquarters at Tupelo, he stayed with the army until 
it marched out on the old military road north, toward 
Corinth, when he left it to report the strength and 
plans of the enemy to Gen. Rosecrans. This was in 
September, 1862, just before the luka battle. 

Col. Henson had not yet met Gen. Rosecrans and 
was under orders from Capt. Miles, Gen. Rosecrans' 
adjutant-general, to whom he reported at the camp 
five miles south of Corinth. Capt. Miles pointed out 
Gen. Rosecrans just as the latter was getting into his 
ambulance, accompanied by his father confessor, and 



28 THE SOUTHERN UKION^SPY. 

Col. Hensou saw him then for the first time. He 
went into Corinth with the army. 

Then followed the bloody and desperate battle of 
luka Springs. Capt. Miles wanted Col. Henson to 
accom|)any him in his advance on Price's army, but he 
told him that capture, while with the Federal forces, 
would be the destruction of his usefulness, if not the 
end of his life. 

In speaking of this event. Col. Henson always refers 
in terms of the highest praise of Gen. Eosecrans' hu- 
manity in his treatment of the wounded Confederates. 
He said he gave them every attention and allowed them 
the most kindly treatment at the Springs. 

After luka came Corinth, on which Gen. Price 
moved with a determination to wipe out the Federal 
army. The battle of the 4th and 5th of October was 
one of the great battles of the war and was desper- 
ately fought, but Gen. Rosecrans was master of the 
situation. 

Col. Rogers, who fell leading his regiment of gal- 
lant Texans in the charge on Fort Eobinet, was buried 
on the spot where his life blood ebbed away, and to 
this day his grave is shown to every visitor who goes 
to Corinth, and his memory is honored. The hero of 
the battle was Gen. Samuel Gholson, who was 
wounded in front of the Corinth Hotel. 

This brings the history up to the 19th of October 
when Gen. Rosecrans was relieved of the command of 
the army at Corinth and was ordered to take Gen. 
Buell's command in Kentucky. It marks an impor- 
tant period in the life of Col. Henson, 



THE OATH OF A 8PT. 29 



qHAPTjER V. 

THE OATH OF A SPY. 

FTP to this time Ool. Henson had acted as a scout 
only in a desultory manner without a regular con- 
nection with the army, but this ill-defined position was 
to be changed into another vastly more important one. 

Before Gen. Rosecrans left for Kentucky he wanted 
to learn where Gen. Bragg intended to concentrate his 
forces. Gen. Bragg was retreating out of Kentucky 
and was near Murphysboro, Tenn. It was a long trip 
and there was not a man who knew the country well 
enough to make the trip or who was willing to under- 
take the danger of it, as the intermediate country was 
full of bushwhackers and straggling bands of rebel 
cavalry. 

Maj. Truesdale bethought himself of his new scout, 
and asked him to undertake the trip. He said he had 
no man who could or would do it besides Col. Henson, 
who finally consented to go. 

Col. Henson had been brought up in North Alabama, 
and he believed he could make the journey. It was 
full of danger, but he was confident of his own ability 
and resources and went cheerfully into the undertak- 
ing. 

There was one thing more to do, and that 'was to 
take the oath of a spy, which was necessary, as his 



30 THE SOUTHERN UNION SPY. 

mission was of so important a nature and he could 
prove of so much damage to the Federal army if he 
chose to do so. Gen. Eosecrans himself administered 
the oath, which is the most bindiug that can be im- 
posed upon a man. The oath was given on the 18th 
of October, the day before Gen. Rosecrans left for 
Perry vi lie. 

Nothing could have been more solemn and impres- 
sive than Gen. Rosecrans' administration of the oath. 
He not only gave the oath, which was sworn to, but he 
also explained to Col. Henson the nature of the vow 
he was assuming and the danger he would bring upon 
himself. He cautioned him against ever sajing a word 
that would betray his army or of ever proving in any 
way disloyal. He told him that his path would be 
hedged with dangers, because the rebels would hang 
him if they caught him, and the Union soldiers would 
hang him as a traitor if he should prove unfaithful. 

The next day Gen. Rosecrans started for Kentucky 
and Col. Henson put out for Bragg's army. He had 
not been gone three days when he was surprised by 
some outposts of Gen. P. D. Roddy's cavalry near the 
place now known as Sheffield, Ala. This was rather 
quick work, and proved that Gen. Rosecrans' warn- 
ing was pretty straight. The spy was arrested and 
was carried to headquarters at Cherokee. 

Gen. Roddy had been worsted in a scrap with Col. 
Smith of the Fifth Ohio Cavalry, and was in a towering 
humor: He ordered the prisoner put under guard and 
watched during the night. The prospect looked dark, 



THE OATH OF A SPY, 31 

and if it had not been that he was a southern man and 
was acquainted with several officers and men who 
never suspected for a moment that he had anything to 
do with the Northern army, he would have fared badly. 
Col. Ligon, Charles Newson, Capt. J. C. Potts, 
Lieut. Joha Duncan, Adjutant Gen. Milton Davis and 
others, vouched for Henson's loyalty to the Confeder- 
ate cause and he was released. 

How to get into Bragg's lines was anather thing, 
and Col. Henson quickly formed his plan. He went to 
Guntersville, Ala., his old home, and filling his saddle- 
bags with rebel clothes started ostensibly to visit his 
brother and relations in Gen. Bragg' s army. His title 
now was clear to get inside the lines. 

As it turned out he did not have to go far into the 
lines. At Murphysboro, Tenn., he met some of the 
advence guards of the army. They told him they 
were there makinor arrauorements for the concentration 
of the army at that point. This was all Col. Henson 
wanted and without any attempt to see his brother or 
his relatives, he prepared to return home. So com- 
pletely were the Southern people deceived in Col. 
Benson's character that on his way back he met many 
men going to see their sons in the army and gave 
them all the information they asked for about them. 

He was not destined to get through without stop- 
page, however, for once more he came in contact \yith 
Roddy and his cavalry. The General was still in bad 
humor and held the spy a day and a night. He sub- 
jected him to close cross-questioning. It was a criti- 



32 THE SOUTHERN UNION SPY. 

cal moment but his invention saved him. Gen. Roddy 
wanted to know why he was not in the Confederate 
army. 

Col. Henson replied that he was inside the Yankee 
lines and that he wanted to get his family out because 
the Yankees were the meanest and the wprst people 
on the face of the earth. He had gone, therefore, to 
North Alabama to see his mother and to make arransre- 
ments to take his family there if he should be able to 
find them again, as he did not believe the Yankees 
would allow them to stay at home. 

This song and dance pulled the wool over Gen. 
Roddy's eyes and by the assistance of his friends again 
he was allowed to depart. Not without conditions, 
however. He had to promise not to go through his 
outside picket lines and to join the Confederate army 
as soon as he could make arrangements to do so. 
Both promises were readily given. Col. Henson 
stating that he was then anticipating joining Gen. 
Roddy's command. The first promise the General saw 
that he kept by sending a guard with him to take him 
around the picket lines. 

The spy, having released himself from this danger- 
ous predicament, which, in the light of later adventures, 
was mere child's play, was thus left about midday of 
the 6th of November forty miles from Corinth. 

You may be sure he spurred his horse onward and 
made good time. No incident occurred until just after 
sunset, when he was brought up at the point of several 
pistols with a peremptory ** halt 1 " His captors were 



THE OATH OP A SPY. 33 

Union pickets, belonging to Col. Smith's cavalry. A 
demand to be taken to headquarters brought the spy 
into the Colonel's presence. It required only a few 
minutes to tell Col. Smith where Roddy was encamped 
and how strong his force was, when, on request to be 
sent to headquarters at Corinth, he was freshly 
nciounted and was galloping over the twelve miles with 
a strong escort of cavalrymen. 

At 11 o'clock the hoofs of the horses rattled on the 
streets of the city and the returned spy was introduced 
to Gen. G. M. Dodge, who had been placed in com- 
mand of the army. This was his first meeting with 
the man for whom he was to do some of his best work, 
and whose high esteem he afterwards won. 

Gen. Dodge was soon placed in possession of the 
facts of the spot where Gen, Bragg' s forces were con- 
centrating, of his strength and of the feeling of the 
people and soldiers witJh regard to the war. 

This was Col. Henson's first exploit as a spy, and it 
was brilliantly achieved. He had been arrested twice 
by the enemy and had penetrated Gen. Bragg's lines. 
What is more, he had got out of them again with a whole 
skin and the information he wanted. He was now 
under Gen. Dodge and ready for greater feats. 



34 THE SOUTHERN UNION SPY. 



CHAPTER VI. 



A SHREWD SCHEME. 



THE events of the following year opened a broader 
field of operations. The two armies were maneuver- 
ing for the advantage and were constantly menacing 
each other. 

The Federal forces were at Corinth and the Con- 
federate forces were at Okolona and Columbus, Missis- 
si ssippi. 

The position of Phil, the scout, was a delicate and 
dangerous one with two armies concentrating in Missis- 
sippi. He stood in excellent chances of making the in- 
acquaintance of a rope or a bullet, and was almost sure 
to be discovered if he attempted to follow the usual 
methods of a spy. They would not work to the least 
advantage there, and if he should be unveiled even if 
he were not killed he would be of no further use to 
the Union army. So he set his wits to work and they 
did good service. He hit upon a masterly plan, which 
he unfolded to Gen. Dodge. 

The plan was this : Henson was to act as a scout 
and spy for Gen. Dodge, and was to be allowed to 
take anything he chose in the way of supplies to the 
Confederate army. He would also arrange to be a scout 
for the rebels, but of course, this was to be a blind 
only and he was never to betray his secrets to them. 



A SHREWD SCHEME. 35 

Gen. Dodge agreed to it, and Col. Henson proposed 
the arrangement to Gens. Euggles, Gholson and Fer- 
guson, of the Confederate forces, not saying anything, 
of course, about his arrangement with Gen. Dodge. 
He agreed to give them faithful reports. The ar- 
rangement was agreed to on their side, two undoubted 
Southern men, Jefferson Young and Jesse Johnson, 
of Eienzi,<vouching for Col. Henson's reliability. 

The double spy occupied a position which seems al- 
most an impossibility, yet he secured the confidence of 
both sides and retained it. Gen. Ruggles, Gen. Ghol- 
son and Gen. Polk, of the Confederacy, spoke of Col. 
Henson as one of the few men who could and would 
do the work of a 'reliable scout. The first-mentioned 
was an old West Pointer, with many years* experience, 
and he remarked to Maj. Beck and Capt. Sanders, of 
his staff, that he belieyed Henson was the right man 
in the right place; that he was not easily deceived, 
and that he thought he had not met a man with more 
nerve and courage than he had. Gen. Dodge and his 
adjutant, Capt. G. E. Spencer, had a private and seri- 
ous conversation with Col. Henson on the risk and im- 
portance of his position, and they thoroughly under- 
stood each other. 

Then the spy prepared for his mission, and was in a 
position which, while it involved terrible risks, enabled 
him to be of the greatest value. 

It was not long before Col. Henson was in the sad- 
dle again. This time to discover how much truth 
there was in a rumor that the Confederates were mass- 



36 THE 80UTHEBN UNION SPY. 

ing in large force at Okolona, and were preparing to 
advance on Corinth, brought in by a scout. Gen. 
Dodge sent him out to investigate, and he started for 
Okolona in February, 1863. He was dashing along, 
keeping a sharp lookout for surprises, when he was 
suddenly confronted with the muzzles of half a dozen 
rifles, held by as many determined looking greys. 
There was no help for it but to stop, and stop he did. 
The men belonged to Col. Bartoe's Sixth Tennessee 
Cavalry, and the Colonel had no use for a man who was 
not in the army. He kept the spy under guard for 
awhile, and finally sent him to headquarters, when 
Gen. Ruggles at once released him. This was the first 
test of the new plan, and it worked like a charm. Of 
course, Col. Henson made his report, telling of the con- 
dition of the Union forces at Corinth, the spirits of the 
men, and their number, according to common talk. 

The next mission Gen. Dodge had for his spy was 
a difficult one. It was to go to Columbus, Miss., en- 
ter the lines and discover what truth there was in the 
report that the enemy were fortifying the place ; and, 
also, to learn all he could about the situation. The 
line of breastworks was extensive and complete, and 
it appeared to be an impossibility to get inside with 
one's life. 

But Col. Henson determined to do it. 

There was no such word as fail with him, but it 
looked discouraging. On his way to the city he met 
one of Gen. Dodge's scouts who had been sent on the 
saiae iQission. I}is name was IJigginbotham, and he 



A SHREWD SCHEME. 37 

was utterly discouraged and demoralized. He had 
tried to enter the lines and had failed. He had been 
chased by the rebels and had spent the entire day in 
a swamp. He told Henson that there was no use in 
trying to get in, and if he succeeded, he would never 
get out alive. He said if he ever got back inside the 
Yankee lines alive he would never go out of them again. 
The two men spent the night in the swamp and parted 
in the morning, one returning to Corinth, and the 
other starting for Columbus. The returned scout told 
Gen. Dodge that if Henson ever reached Columbus, 
he would never return. Gen. Dodge waited. There 
were 24 miles of fortification around the place, but 
he had faith in his man. He remarked to his scout 
that he believed Henson would get in and get out. 

Gen. Dodge was right. Henson pushed on until he 
met some pickets. He fraternized with them ; told 
them that the Yankees treated the citizens of Corinth 
abominably, and insulted the women. In a short 
time he was en rapport with the pickets, and picked 
up a budget of information as to the number of troops, 
none but Gen. Euggles' brigade being inside, and as 
to the number of miles of fortifications. The soldiers 
said that the rich planters around there had loaned 
their negroes to the army to build the breastworks. 
The spy was conveyed to headquarters before Gen. 
Ruggles. The General asked about the truth of re- 
ports that the Union army intended to make a raid 
South and Henson told him they were not true, to the 
best of his knowledge. 



38 THE SOUTHERN UNION SPY. 

One of Gen. Dodge's female spies, a Miss Mary 
Mainard, had been captured by Gen. Kuggles, and 
Henson was allowed to visit her with an oflSicer, in per- 
son, as he knew her people, and received messages 
from her to her home folks. The poor girl was held 
until the close of the war. 

Now that the spy was in the lines and had his in- 
formation the problem was how to get out. It was 
soon solved. Frank McCauley, a brother of Moore 
McCauley, was in Columbus, and was anxious to return 
the favor done by Henson to his brother. A number 
of Mrs. Henson's relatives also lived in Columbus, and 
together they secured a pass for him to go South. 
Southward he went until he reached the Alabama 
line, and then writing out a pass for himself to go 
North he started toward Corinth. 

He was not to go long unchallenged. A squad of 
soldiers belonging to Col. Warren's regiment inter- 
cepted him and took him in charge. The soldiers were 
more bandits than regulars, and were out for plunder. 
They were ready to cut a throat or shoot a man down 
for the money he had about him, but the pass that 
Henson had written was satisfactory to them and thej 
let him go. 

This was not the only close shave he had before he 
reached Corinth. About twenty miles from the city 
lived John W. Thompson, a staunch Union man, whose 
house was one of the spy's regular stopping places on 
his trips. Mr. Thompson had two daughters, Mary 
and Jennie, who were as brave and active as they were 



A SHREWD SCHEME. 39 

pretty, and had several times befriended Henson. He 
stopped at the house, this time intending to stay all 
night, but the girls told him that Col. Mosely's band 
of bushwhackers was in the neighborhood and it would 
be dangerous for him to stop at the house. They took 
his horse and put it in a secret place and giving him a 
blanket told him to sleep in the pine thicket about 
half a mile from the house and they would warn him 
if there should be any danger. In the morning they 
took him his breakfast and watching to provide against 
a surprise started him toward Corinth. Three differ- 
ent times did these intrepid girls save Henson from 
capture. He reached Gen. Dodge in safety, and thus 
vindicated the General's faith in his ability to get in 
and out of Columbus. 



40 THE SOUTHERN UNION SPY. 

CHAPTEE VII. 

A SCRAP WITH GEN. FORREST. 

THOSE who met Gen. N. B. Forrest during the war 

know what kind of fighter he was. He meant busi- 
ness all the time, and he was looked upon as chained 
lightning and a man who would stand no foolish- 
ness. 

Col. Henson ran against Forrest several times and 
succeeded in gaining his ends in spite of the old fire- 
eater's shrewdness. 

The first time he met him was in the spring of 1863, 
and then he detained him six hours, while a body of 
Union soldiers were slipping out of his grasp. 

It was when Col. Straits made his famous raid, 
which was one of Gen. Dodge's strategic movements. 
Forrest captured jhis 1,700 men with a force of only 
500 by one of his bluff games, but he had trouble in 
catching him. This raid was organized in Corinth 
and the entire army accompanied Col. Straits as 
far as Tuscumbia, where he left them. 

He had scarcely started when Gen. Forrest was on 
his trail with whip and spur. Henson had been em- 
ployed by Forrest to scout for him, and went to Cor- 
inth ostensibly for that purpose. He went with the 
Union army to Tuscumbia and then started for Tu- 
pelo, Miss., to report to Gen. Forrest. He knew 



A SCRAP WITH GEN. FORREST. 41 

every hour was valuable to Col. Straits, and he trav- 
eled slowly lengthening out the journey fully six 
hours, and thus detaining Gen. Forrest who was wait- 
ing for reports during this time. Col. Straits made 
good headway over the rough mountains of North Ala- 
bama and Georgia, burning bridges and blockading his 
pursuers, but he was nearly overtaken at Rome, Ga. 
He had burned the bridge over Black River in St. 
Clair county, and there it was that Miss Mary Sand- 
ford, an heroic young Southern lady, jumped behind 
Gen. Forrest on his horse and showed him a ford 
where he crossed below the bridge. Col. Henson knew 
Miss Sandford and her mother well, and it will be re- 
membered that President Davis presented her with 
1,400 acres of land as a reward for her services, and 
she was looked upon in the South as one of the hero- 
ines of the war for this piece of service. 

The siege of Vicksburg ! 

What memories of hard fighting and dangerous- ad- 
ventures were aroused by the bare mention of this 
event. 

The glorious result was a blow to the Southern 
cause and the Southern heart as unexpected as it wsls 
terrible. 

Gen. Dodge's brilliant services cannot be praised 
too highly. He kept Johnson and Breckinridge, who 
were in the rear of Grant, so busily occupied that 
they could not harass the rear of the commander's 
forces and thus check his advance on the city.- 

But our brave spy, too, had work to do, and of a 



42 THE SOUTHERN UNION SPY. 

kind that would have made any less gallant heart 
quail and draw back. 

One day he was called into Gen. Dodge's quarters. 
Only the General and Capt. Spencer were in the room, 
and they had something for Heuson to do. Vicks- 
burg was not yet surrounded and it was of the utmost 
importance that information with regard to the posi- 
tion and numbers of the Confederates, their condition 
and spirits be ascertained. The question was, who 
would undertake so difficult and dangerous a mission 
and who could accomplish it? 

Gen. Dodge felt that there was but one man. He 
was beginning to recognize of what stuff Henson was 
made, and to depend on him. So he was summoned 
into his presence. The nature of the commission was 
explained to him. 

<< Will you undertake it?" asked the General. 

*< It is a hard piece of work," said the spy hesitat- 
ingly. 

'< I know it is, but it must be done, and you must do 
it. There is no other man in the service who can or 
will do it." 

This was enough. Col. Henson accepted his com- 
mission and began to lay his plans. 

It was a delicate mission and Henson felt that he 
must go with every circumstance in his favor, and 
protected by indubitable evidence of his loyalty to the 
South. 

Jesse* Johnsey, an old neighbor, was undoubted in 
his devotion to the cause. He had five sons in the 



A SCRAP WITH GEN. FORREST. 43 

rebel army. Here was the chance for protection. 
Henson went to Johnsey and asked him if he wanted 
to visit his sons in Vicksburg, and offering to furnish 
him with with a good horse to make the trip. 
Johnsey was gladto accept the invitation and the bait 
was successful. As a further inducement he told him 
he could fill his saddle-bags with whatever the boys 
might need. 

The two men, started but had scarcely gone twenty 
miles when seven soldiers stepped into the road in 
front of them and leveled their guns at their heads. 
There was no gainsaying the force of the invitation to 
halt. The soldiers belonged to the band of one Thun- 
derburg, a desperate and villainous old guerrilla and 
resistance would be instant death. 

Old Thunderburg examined the pair very closely, but 
the shrewd scheme of filling the saddlebags with gray 
clothes for the boys and other things of the similar 
kind deceived him, and he let them go. 

Two nights and a day passed on the journey. The 
second night a farmer told them that the water in the 
streams was high, and would give them trouble, and 
the roads were bad, the fords dangerous. The horses 
had to swim over several streams that day, but the spy 
pressed on. 

The next night was spent with the fiither of one of 
Gen. Henderson's scouts, whom Henson had, treated 
kindly, and the return of the favor was generous. 

On the fourth day the spy reached Cold Water river. 
It was swollen to enormous proportions, and the cur- 



44 THE SOUTHERN UNION SPY. 

rent was swift as a mill race. To cross it seemed im- 
possible, but Hensou forced his horse in and the 
animal fought his way across with desperate efforts. 
When he reached the other bank the horse sprang up 
it, but fell back in the water, and it seemed for a time 
as if he and his master would be drowned like rats. 

But providence had ordered differently, and after a 
long struggle they reached firm land, more dead than 
alive. It was March, and the weather was cold and 
raw. Johnsey was not so bold, and crossed in a canoe, 
driving his horse before him. 

Confederate soldiers were thick in this region, and 
the pair frequently met them, but ** going to Vicksburg 
to see our boys" were the talismanic words that 
opened their hearts and lines. 

Finally the pickets were reached and the invariable 
arrest followed, and the two men were brought up be- 
fore Gen. Pemberton. Fortunately Henson had a 
friend in camp in the person of Capt. Murphy, of 
Cotton Gin, who introduced him to Pemberton. 

The statement from Henson that he lived near the 
Yankee lines and was going to see his brother was ac- 
cepted. Gen. Pemberton was a genial, courteous gen- 
tleman, and was serene in the confidence of the im- 
pregnability of the situation at Vicksburg. 

The spy told all the facts about the Federals that 
Gen. Dodge had told him to tell, and abused the Yan- 
kees roundly for their rough treatment of the Southern 
citizens, and Gen. Pemberton's confidence was com- 
pletely won. He told Henson to tell the Yankees that 



A SCRAP WITH GEN. FORREST. 45 

they were wasting time trying to take Vicksburg, be- 
cause it could not be taken. He told him also to visit 
the boys and tell them of the rough treatment of citi- 
zens by the Yankees. The spy was given the freedom 
of the camp, and was actually shown over the fortifi- 
cations by Capt. Murphy, who kindly explained the 
nature of the defenses and told him the number of 
the troops in and about the city. 

The officers and men were in high spirits and laughed 
at the delusion of the Yanks that they could carry the 
city. 

Col. Henson never made a note. He was too 
shrewd for that, and he had a memory which never 
failed him in the smallest detail of a report. It was 
an invaluable faculty in this and all other missions. 
What was in his head was his own, but notes discov- 
ered on his person would have been certain condemna- 
tion. 

One night was spent with Capt. Murphy, and the 
spy's brother not being in the city, he was given a 
pass and was allowed to leave for home. 

A rapid, pleasant trip,with only occasional interrup- 
tions from roving squads of soldiers brought him home 
again at Corinth, and Gen. Dodge was told what he 
wanted to learn,with the additional opinion that Vicks- 
burg could not be taken. 

The information which the spy had brought back 
figured largely in the falsification of this prediction at 
a later date. 



46 THE SOUTHERN UNION SPY. 

CHAPTER VIII. 

A DASH FOR LIFE. 

THE reader, doubtless, is beginning to realize the 
nature of the man with whom this sketch deals. 
When he knows more about him he will find that not 
a word too much has been said of his courage and 
ability. 

From this time on, as the fighting became more des- 
perate, his danger increased, and in reality he carried 
his life in his hand, as many a narrow escape and 
thrilling adventure testifies. 

It is almost impossible for him who sits by the quiet 
fireside of home to realize what it meant to act the spy 
in that rough country, infested with desperate guerril- 
las and swarming with impetuous men to whom the 
slightest suspicion that another even favored, much 
more aided, the enemy was sufficient warrant for im- 
mediate death. 

The conviction forces itself more and more oa any 
one who considers Col. Henson's record that he was a 
man of ten thousand whose career becomes more and 
more of a marvel as it is revealed, and whose existence 
to-day is little short of a miracle. 

In his simple quiet way, when asked how he came 
through his experiences alive, he replied, *< I don't 
know how, but I believe that God was with me and 
preserved me for what I had to do. I never felt a 



A DASH FOR LIFE. 47 

fear of death. When I was ordered to be shot once, I 
told my wife that I did not believe that I would be 
shot, but if I should be I was ready to die for the 
cause, as my work would be finished." 

This is the man who every time he went on a jour- 
ney at the command of his superior did not know that 
he would ever return. He went with the certainty of 
arrest and with death staring him in the face, yet he 
never faltered. Of such material are heroes made, 
and if the late war had a genuine hero. Col. Henson 
was that one. He never failed to do what he attempt- 
ed to do, and as will be seen later one feat was ac- 
complished by him that for endurance and daring was 
not equaled in the war. 

After his return from Vicksburg only a week of 
rest was allowed him and he was again in the saddle 
on a dangerous mission. 

It was rumored that the Federals intended to make 
an extensive raid through the prairie country, and the 
soldiers and citizens of the South were active and vig- 
ilant and took every means to keep all information 
of their movements from the Union generals. 

Gen. Dodge ordered Henson to visit Tupelo, Oka- 
lona, Columbus and Jackson, Miss., to discover the 
contemplated movements of the enemy and the 
strength of their forces. 

He gave the spy a present, which proved of immense 
value to him afterwards. It was a magnificent black 
stud, which he named Black Hawk. He was a speedy 



48 THE SOUTHERN UNION SPY, 

and powerful animal, and on his first trip saved his 
master from the enemy. 

With this animal the spy was well equipped and had 
passes from Generals Gholson, Ruggles and Ferguson 
on the Confederate side and Gen. Dodge. 

The last was a death warrant in the country into 
which he was going, and he secreted it by unscrewing 
the brass piece on the handle of his revolver, digging 
out enough wood to admit it and again screwing in the 
brass piece. 

Henson found a valuable companion for the trip. 
This was B. F. Young, a trader and blockade runner, 
and a rampant rebel who wanted to accompany him. 

The two men started from Corinth and met with no 
trouble on the first day. That night they slept at the 
house of a Capt. Metz, a courteous gentleman , who 
warned them that there was great danger in traveling 
as the excitement over the rumored raid of the 
Federals was intense. The next morning they reached 
Okolona to find that Gen. Buggies' headquarters 
were at Columbus, and that Okolona was in command 
of a red-headed provost marshal who thought he owned 
the Southern Confederacy and that the whole thing 
would go to the bow-wows without him. He. was one 
of those men who '* clothed in a little brief authority 
do such deeds before high Heaven as make the angels 
weep." 

His first act was to arrest Henson, despite his passes. 
His next act was to take his splendid horse. He did 
not condescend to tell the spy on what charge he was 



A DASH FOR LIFE. 49 

arrested. He left him to guess at it, and as Black 
Hawk was in his stable, it was not hard arriving at the 
truth. 

Henson had friends in Sam McCauley and William 
Adair, who went to the provost marshal and requested 
his release, but in vain. He would hear to nothing in 
his favor. 

Young kept his ears open and overheard a conver- 
sation between the two friends of Henson and the 
marshal. It made his heart stand still for fear of his 
companion's safety. 

The marshal declared that he knew Henson was a 
Yankee spy, and he intended to hold him as such. 
Young never dreamed of the truth of the charge, but 
he knew what that meant — death — or at least a long 
imprisonment before a trial could be had. 

He went to Henson and told him that he feared he 
was done/or, at least during the war, that the provost 
marshal accused him of being a spy. 

Something must be done, and that promptly. The 
case was desperate and demanded desperate action. 

Henson resolved to escape from his guard, but 
how, was the question. To attempt to run in sight of 
him was to be shot. 

The only other alternative was bribery. He had 
money, and perhaps the guard was corruptible, and he 
determined to try him. 

The attempt was successful. The offer of $100 in 
Confederate money, which was good then, proved 



50 THE SOUTHERN UNION SPY. 

too much for the poor fellow and he consented to 
fall asleep during the night. 

Henson had laid his plans. He told Young to be 
near the stable where his Black Hawk wsis, and to be 
in readiness to make a dash for it, and to have Black 
Hawk saddled and bridled. 

' The spy waited anxiously for darkness and when at 
at last it came, the guard kept his word. The money 
was shoved into his band and he slept like a top. 
Henson crept stealthily from his prison and along the 
street avoiding every one. His friend Young was at 
the appointed place and Black Hawk was pawing with 
impatience to be off. 

It took only a moment to spring into the saddle, 
clap spurs into the animal's side and be off at a jump. 

But there were pickets to get through — they had 
not thought of that — and the loud '< halt" of the 
soldier with the ominous click of the gun lock brought 
the horses on their haunches. Henson's wits were at 
work. He bethought him of the pass from Gen. 
Gholson; perhaps the picket would not be so unrea- 
sonable as the provost marshal. It was a happy 
thought, for a glance at the name of the general was 
suflScient and the men were allowed to pass on. 

Pursuit was certain and the result depended on the 
horses. Black Hawk was to be depended on, and 
Young's horse was a fine one, so that the chances 
were good if they should not be stopped by some 
strangers. 

The splendid animals seemed to realize the danger of 



A DASH FOR LIFE. 51 

their riders, and dashed along with the speed of the 
wind. The main military roads were dangerous, and 
the fleeing spy and trader took the country roads. 
The pursuers were thrown off the trail, and they were 
safe from immediate danger. 

That night they rested at a farmhouse, keeping vig- 
ilant watch for pursuers, but none appeared. The spy 
had saved his horse from the provost marshal, who was 
something of a military dude, and liked fine horses 
and clothes, and had relieved his companion of his 
goods. 

It was folly to attempt to remain in the county of 
the red-headed provost marshal after this, and with 
such a horse, so the two determined to return to Cor- 
inth. They kept to the woods, and reached home in 
safety. 

Gen. Dodge had a hearty laugh over the spy's de- 
scription of the treatment the provost marshal had given 
him, and his turkey-gobbler airs of importance, and 
c()»igratulated him on his escape. 

The second week in May found Henson again on his 
way to the headquarters of Generals Gholson, Ruggles 
and Ferguson. Gen. Buggies- was then at Okolona. 
One exciting incident marked the trip. The spy had 
passed Col. Inges' scouts, who were on the lookout, 
without detection and had reached the house of his 
old friend, Metz, where he intended to stop all night. 
Some one had told the scouts that a suspicious look- 
ing stranger had passed along the road and they fol- 
lowed him to the Metz residence. It was midnight 



52 THE SOUTHERN UNION SPY. 

when they reached the residence and surrounded it. 
The scouts were under command of Capt. Rogers, who 
rode up and asked if there was a man stopping at the 
house. 

On receiving an aflSrmative reply he ordered his 
men to close up around the house and-to shoot down 
any one who attempted to escape. The family were 
frightened nearly to death and Mrs. Metz rushed to 
Col. Henson's room and told him that the house was 
surrounded and his life was in danger. Henson told 
her not to be uneasy, as the Confederates would not 
hurt one of their own men and he was under th6 pro- 
tection of the Confederate government. 

Capt. Rogers ordered the spy to mount his horse 
and go to headquarters and answer to the charge of 
being a spy. 

Mr. Metz, his wife and daughter, with tears in their 
eyes, begged the Captain not to shoot Henson as they 
could vouch for him, and they told him good-bye 
weeping and believing that they would never see him 
again. 

Col. Henson was as cool as an iceberg, and readily 
went to Col. Inges' headquarters at Tupelo. He had 
his Confederate passes and a couple of bottles of good 
old rye and they both acted like a charm on Col. 
Inges and his adjutant general, A. J. Slye. They 
were the best of friends in a little while, and sent him 
to Gen. Ruggles' headquarters at Okolona with an es- 
cort. 

Col. Henson had kept on the best of terms with 



A DASH FOR LIFE. 53 

Gen. Ruggles by always bringing through the Yankee 
lines anything his wife or any member of his staff de- 
sired, and he was soon back in Corinth with the infor- 
mation Gen. Dodge wanted. When he told the Gen- 
eral of his adventure with the scouts, he laughed, and 
said that he would be killed sure if he did not look 
sharp. 

The fall of Vicksburg, July 4, 1863, discouraged 
the Southern army. Soldiers and citizens were ut- 
terly cast down and dispirited. 

Col. Henson made a hasty trip through the South to 
discover the prevailing sentiment and what were the 
movements of the troops. The rebels seemed too 
spiritless to care who passed through the country and 
the trip was made without a question being asked. 

On horseback to Okolona, by rail to Meridian and 
Jackson through the disheartened army, back again to 
Okolona and home at Corinth completed the work. 



54 THE SOUTHERN UNION SPY. 



CHAPTEK IX. 

IN THE HANDS OF THE BANDITS. 

THE spy was at home [when (Corinth was evacuated 

by the Union troops in January, 1864. 

It was the opportunity ot the guerrillas, who had 
been prowling around the woods, and they were not 
slow to take advantage of it. 

Henson was taking a well-earned rest with his fam- 
ily. On the night of January 26, when he was chat- 
ting quietly with his wife, there came a thundering 
knock on the door and a peremptory demand for ad- 
mittance. 

When the door was opened by Mrs. Henson, four 
men, armed to the teeth, rushed into the house. The 
Hensons knew them all and knew them to be des- 
perate characters who lived by desultory warfare and 
plunder. 

Henson maintained his cool bearing, however, and 
asked who they wanted. 

<< We want to arrest you," said one of the men. 

** What is your authority?" asked Henson. 

The stocks of four guns came heavily on the floor. 
*< This is our authority," said one of them. 

<« I refuse to be arrested by you on such authority," 
was the calm reply. 

''Then we will kill you," said the boldest of the gang. 



IN^THE HANDS OF THE BANDITS. 55 

** Go ahead and kill me," said Col. Henson, '' for I'll 
not go with you." 

Four guns were raised to the shoulder, and the bar- 
rels were leveled ready for the command to fire, when 
Mrs. Henson sprang between the threatening muzzles 
and her husband, *' If you kill him you will have to 
kill me first," said the brave woman ''we will die to- 
gether." 

This intrepid action disconcerted the band, and they 
dropped their guns. 

They then demanded Henson 's money, and he re- 
plied just as coolly that they could not get it, and that 
he would die before he would give it to them. Two of 
the gang then drew their pistols, and holding them to 
the heads of the Hensons, two others searched the 
house for money and valuables. The two with pistols 
threatened to shoot Henson and wife if they moved. 
No money was found. 

The leader of the band, one Capt. T. B., his name 
is not given in full, although the names of the others 
were Allen Walker, Jos. Hill, Isaac Smith and Wm. 
Barnet, who had been standing guard, called his men 
out and held a consultation with them. 

At the conclusion of the consultation they went to 
the stable, and breaking down the door, took out the 
stock, consisting of four mules and Black Hawk, and 
left the house. 

This was not the last of them, however, as they re- 
turned e;irly the next morning and again attempted to 
arrest Henson. He refused again to go with them. 



56 THE SOUTHERN UNION SPY. 

and indicated that they could shoot him whenever they 
felt like it. The guns were leveled again, when Hen- 
son surrendered. He had faced death before, and was 
not frightened then, but his wife, although brave to 
the last, appealed to the ruffians to spare him, and to 
him to surrender, as she saw that it would be folly to 
resist. A neighbor, Mr. W. Y. O'Neill, who was 
present, also advised him to offer no further resist- 
ance. 

The Captain said he intended to take Henson to 
Col. Morphy, and mounting him on a mule, with 
two guards in front and two behind, mstructed to 
shoot him down at the first sign of an attempt to es- 
cape. Capt. B. rode Black Hawk. 

The party met Mr. Moore McCauley, who begged 
the guerrillas to release Henson, but to no purpose, as 
they were determined to bleed him, and kill him if 
necessary. 

The men took their prisoner to the Tuscumbia River 
swamp and kept him under guard for three days at the 
house of Bird Smith, one of the most desperate char- 
acters in the country, and the father of the Smith in 
the band. 

On the third day the captain asked Henson what he 
was willing to pay for his release. He offered him one 
of the stolen mules. The offer was refused, but after 
consultation he said if he would give them a mule and 
$1,000 in cash, they would return the horse an<J the 
other mules and let him go. The prisoner promptly 
agreed to these terms. 



IN THE HANDS OF THE BANDITS. 57 

But, meanwhile, his wife and friends were not idle. 
Oapt. Ed. Spencer, a brave soldier and good citizen, 
started with his company in pursuit of the bandits and, 
arriving just as the bargain was completed, demanded 
the unconditional surrender of the prisoner. His de- 
mand was complied with, and Henson returned home 
with his property, much to the surprise and joy of his 
wife and friends, who believed him murdered. 



58 THE SOUTHERN UNION SPT. 



CHAPTER X. 

BY FIELD AND FLOOD. 

THE Union spy, after getting his affairs in good 
shape, was preparing for a venture into the Con- 
federate lines again. 

Things looked blue for the South. Gen. Sherman 
was advancing from Vicksburg and had reached the 
railroad center at Meridian. Gens. Smith and Grier- 
son were advancing with heavy mounted forces from 
Memphis by way of New Albany, and Gen. Dodge 
was reported to be crossing the Tennessee Kiver at 
Decatur, Bridgeport and Whjtesburg. Gen. N. B. 
Forrest, one of the best fighters the South had, was 
confronting Gens. Smith and Grierson, while Col. 
Roddy was defending the passages of the Tennessee. 

It was as much as a man's life was worth to travel 
at this time, but on February 8th Henson started for 
old Carmargo, where Gen. Gholson had his headquar- 
ters, and reported for duty to him. 

Gen. Gholson gave his trusted scout a bed in his 
own tent, and while pretending to sleep the spy heard 
all the reports that were brought in by Gholson' s 
scouts. During the night a dispatch came from For- 
rest ordering Gholson to concentrate his force at West 
Point, and on the next day the General ordered Hen- 
son to go into the Federal lines and find out if the 



BY FIELD AND FLOOD. 59 

Union forces were crossing the river or not, and if so 
at what place. 

The trip to Florence was made in a couple of days 
and varied by several arrests, which Geii. Gholson's 
pass soon settled. Every boat was destroyed around 
Florence, and the spy was compelled to push his way 
about one hundred miles up the river to Guntersville. 
He went to his brother-in-law, Yancey Nobles, at 
Gruntersville and told him he wanted to get into the 
Yankee lines. He was told that John Whitecotton, 
an old guerrilla chief and one of the worst men in the 
country, was in the neighborhood, and if he caught 
him attempting to cross the river, he would kill him. 
Yancey Nobles and Chris Cobb were familiar with 
the mountain passes and they guided him over them 
about twenty or thirty miles to some thick bushes 
opposite Whitesburg, where the Federals were. Here 
he met Col. Joe Bradley, a wealthy refugee from 
Huntsville, Ala., and a thorough gentleman. He be- 
lieved that Henson was a Southern scout and offered 
to assist him. He said he had a negro boy named 
Dick, who went over the river in a canoe sometimes, 
but that the river was so high and full of drift that 
it would be dangerous to attempt it. More than that, 
he said that if Henson reached the other side, he be- 
lieved he would be killed as a spy. But he offered his 
boy and canoe to Henson if he wanted to make the 
attempt. 

The boy was called up. ** Dick," said the Captain, 
'' can you take this man across the river in the canoe 



f^O THE SOUTHERN UNION SPY. 

before daylight?" It was pouring down rain and 
pitch dark. 

<* Dunno, Mhssh," said Dick, *' but I 'spec I ken cf 
de canoe ain't upsized by de drift." 

An offer of $100 to make the trip quieted Dick's 
fears and the pair started on their perilous voyage. 
It was nip and tuck between life and death several 
times when huge trees and logs were swept down on 
the frail craft, but they finally landed three miles be- 
low the Federal camp. 

At 8 o'clock in the morning, Henson reached the 
pickets and came near getting into as much trouble 
among his friends as he had with his enemies. He 
was arrested at once and was carried to Col. Hall, com- 
manding the outpost. 

The spy was drenched from the heavy rain, and Col. 
Hall told him to dry his clothing, but regarded him 
with suspicion when he told him where he was from. 

Col. Hall, in person, took him to Gen. Logan at 
Huntsville, Ala. The General examined him closely, 
and asked him about the rebel forces. Henson told 
him the truth with regard to Smith, Grierson, Ghol- 
son and Forrest, which Gen. Logan could not gainsay. 
Then he told him that Gen. Sherman had been to Me- 
ridian, but was falling back on Vicksburg. 

<* You are lying and I believe you are a rebel spy," 
said the General bluntly. *« The Northern papers 
which I have just received state that Sherman has 
taken Selma and is advancing on Montgomery." 

Gen. Logan at once ordered Henson into close con- 



BY FIKLD AND FLOOD. 61 

finement as a spy. It was thus that the spies not only 
ran fearful risks from the enemy, but from the exigen- 
cies of war, were frequently maltreated by their own 
friends. 

The next morning brought a vindication of the spy's 
report. The Northern dispatches confirmed every 
word that he had said. Gen. Logan made all the 
amends in his power. He had him brought from the 
prison and apologized for treating him so harshly, but 
said the necessities of war made it imperative. When 
Henson said he wanted to go to Gen. Dodge, at 
Athens, Ala., Gen, Logan sent a heavy cavalry force 
with him to protect him from the guerrillas who in- 
fested that region. 

Gen. Dodge had just arrived at Athens with his 
pontoons preparatory to crossing the Tennessee river. 
He remarked to Adjutant-Gen. Spencer, '* I would 
give $1,000 if I had Philip Henson here." 

Li less than half an hour Philip Henson walked into 
his quarters, and a more surprised man than the Gen- 
eral could not be found. It had been three months 
since they parted. 



62 THE SOUTHERN UNION SPY. 

CHAPTEK XL 

THE LONGEST TRIP ON RECORD. 

The spy was yet to accomplish his greatest feat, and 
not only this, but the greatest feat that any spy ever 
yet had achieved. It placed him on a pinnacle of dar- 
ing and skill that few men have ever reached. 

He made the longest and most difficult trip that a 
scout or spy had ever successfully m.ide. This deed 
alone would entitle him to a position of honor shared 
by no other. 

He passed entirely through the rebel army of fcte 
region, being received by the officers as a trusted friend 
and agent, and being given their entire confidence in 
all things. They hailed him as one of the most valu- 
able friends of the South and gave him the freedom 
of the country. 

By this means he was enabled to return to Gen. 
Dodge after 31 days of constant travel with informa- 
tion, the value of which could not be estimated. 
Even hard, old fighting Forrest was deceived. It vfds 
not easily accomplished either, for, in order to make 
sure that he was of the right stripe, a detective shad- 
owed him for days, but discovered not one single sus- 
picious action. 

The plans for this trip were carefully laid. When 
Henson started to do anything, he prepared to do it 



THE LONGEST TKIP ON BEGORD. 63 

thoroughly, and he made every provision against con- 
tingencies. 

To show how entire was Gen. Dodge's confidence in 
his integrity, judgment and fidelity, one remark only 
need be quoted. 

**Henson," said he, <<go to my desk and take what- 
ever papers that you think will be of service to you 
among the re.bels." 

The spy looked through the desk and selected some 
i time tables which would be eagerly taken by the 
Southern leaders as valuable information for their 
raids. 

Only ten days were allowed for rest, and on March 
9, 1864, the trusty scout was on horseback galloping 
over the country on his dangerous mission. He never 
spared his horses and frequently he would use up two 
or three in one trip, leaving them on the road and 
buying or trading for fresh animals. 

The day before he left he saw Gen. Dodge build his 
pontoon bridges across the Tennessee river. He was 
alone and with nothing but his own address and 
courage to carry his venture to a successful issue. 

It was not possible to travel long in that country 
without molestation and the familiar '* halt" and click 
sounded in his ears before many miles had been passed. 
It was at Hillsborough that he struck Col. Wm. John- 
son's pickets of Tuscumbia^ Ala. Arrest was an old 
story and did not trouble the scout much, as he knew 
the Colonel well, and after shaking hands, a couple of 
bottles of good old rye cemented the friendship of 



64 THE SOUTHERN UNION SPY. 

the spy and the Confederate officer afresh. Col. John- 
son was fold by Henson that he was on his way to 
Tupelo to see Gen. N. B. Forrest and he was sent 
off with a godspeed. 

At Bear Creek, which was a rushing torrent, the 
scout tried a novel way of crossing. The railroad 
bridge had been partially destroyed, each end being cut 
off, leaving the main structure standing in mid stream. 
Here was a chance to try invention and the scout was 
equal to the emergency. 

He laid two sleepers from the bank to a hand-car 
standing on the structure. Then he led his horse 
across the sleepers to the hand-car and pushed him 
across to the other side, where the animal jumped to 
the shore. The intelligent brute was quiet and docile 
and made the crossing safely. 

The Tuscumbia river was yet to be crossed, and 
there was no bridge nor part of a bridge upon which 
to make the trip. It was swim or stop, and into the 
stream plunged horse and rider, regardless of danger. 
About the middle of the stream the horse threw his rider 
and death by drowning came near being the end of the 
scout. He reached the shore, however, in safety, but 
his horse fared badly, for he was so crippled that he 
had to be left on the road. 

After a short stop at his home in Rienzi, the spy 
pressed on and reached Tupelo, where Gen. Forrest 
was-'quartered. The cavalry now was preparing for 
a raid into Middle Tennessee, and had gathered up 
every soldier around Tupelo for this purpose. 



THE LONGEST TRIP ON RECORD. 65 

luformation which he considered'extremely valuable, 
soon put Heuson on a pleasant footing with the war 
horse. 

*' Where are|you from? " he asked, when Capt. J. 
W. Burton introduced him. 

** From Gen. Dodge's headquarters, " was the reply. 

" What were you doing there?" was the next ques- 
tion asked. 

'< I was sent there by Gen. Gholson, sir." 

Here was a chance to entrap Henson, and Gen. 
Forrest sent for Gen. Gholson and asked if that state- 
ment was true. Gholson said it was. The General 
added that Henson was a true Southerner. 

The latter was forming in his mind the plan of going 
through the entire army and learning everything there 
was to be learned about its position. It was an almost 
impossible feat, but he determined to make the at- 
tempt. 

The first thing to do was to get the absolute confi- 
dence of the Southern Generals, and thus secure 
passes which could not be questioned. He set about 
to do this at once. He had a long conference with the 
two Generals, and gave them all the information that 
he could give. He had obtained a letter from Col. 
W. H. Smith, of the 1st Alabama regiment, and had 
consented to take some 40 or 50 letters from his men 
to their families and friends. These were turned over 
to Gen. Forrest, who read every one of them. Then 
Henson gave him Gen. Dodge's time tables, which 
he gladly received, and talked to him freely about the 



66 THE SOUTHERN UNION SPY. 

number of divisions the Federals had, giving all the 
information he could safely give. 

Then came his master stroke of diplomacy. He 
told him that Gen. Dodge had sent out a number of 
spies into Gen. Joseph E. Johnston's army. 

'* Do you know them?" asked Gen. Forrest eagerlv. 

On receiving a reply in the affirmative, he requested 
Henson to describe them, which he did, knowing that 
all he described had turned back and given up the at- 
tempt to penetrate the lines. Gen. Forrest was com- 
pletely won and the main point was gained. He gave 
the scout a pass good for sixty days, and to be used at 
pleasure. It was the one thing that Henson wanted 
and success was assured should no accident occur. | 

He was instructed to report to Gen. Polk, at Dera- 
opolis, Ala., and one of the best scouts in the secret' 
service was sent with him. A letter of introduction 
indorsing him fully was given him for Gen. Polk 
The promise made Gen. Dodge was in a fair way to be 
redeemed. 

On March 15 the two scouts, one for the rebels and 
the other for the Federals, reached Gen. Polk's head- 
quarters, and Henson was introduced to the General 
Nearly the entire night was spent by him, Major Den 
ny and Captain Jack with Hensjn looking over his 
papers and letters, obtaining other information, and 
laying plans to capture Gen. Dodge's spies. 

Gen. Polk was as clearly won as Gen. Forrest and 
the spy had the game in his hands. Nothing but an 
accident could prevent him from knowing every secret 



THE LONGEST TRIP ON RECORD. 67 

f the Southern Generals. Gren'eral Polk gave the spy 
500 for expenses and sent him to West Point, Ga., 
irith Capt. Barton, to search for the Union spies. He 
old him to visit Atlanta and examine the hotel regis- 
ers, to search the prisons to see if they had been cap- 
ured, and to use all other means to capture them, and 
enaarked when he left that if he proved faithful he 
vas the best and biggest man in the Southern Confed- 
eracy. 

It was not until he had returned to West Point, after 
lis trip, that the spy learned that a watch had been set 
>n him, and that Detective Ames had shadowed him. 
rhe detective himself told him of it, having been con- 
vinced that he was all right. 

The scout made the best of his opportunities. He 
was in the heart of the rebellion and saw all of its in- 
ner workings. Into the prisons and among the troops 
at Rome, Kingston and Dalton, where General Johns- 
ton was and where he met a fellow-townsman. Gen. 
A I. P. LoVery, who filled him with information in ex- 
change for news from home ; back to West Point, by 
Atlanta, where his horse was and where the letters 
from the soldiers were distributed to anxious friends, 
and then once again with face toward the Federal lines 
armed with a pass from Gen. Polk to protect him from 
guerrillas and bushwhackers and with instructions to 
reach the Yankee lines as soon as possible. 

The bushwhackers took off their hats to Gen. Polk's 
pass, and on April 9, after thirty-one days, the spy 



68 THE SOUTHERN UNION SPY. 

was with Gen. Dodge, giving him information which 
was of incalculable value. 

Gen. Dodge was quick to recognize the value of the 
services that his spy had rendered. He told hina that 
he had succeeded far beyond his expectations, and had 
surpassed the record, making the grandest feat that 
had ever been accomplished by a spy. The Genera 
had promised him his reward. He had told him that 
if he was successful he would release him from all fur- 
ther duty and give him his liberty. This was to be the i 
compensation for his arduous and dangerous undertak- 1 
ing. I 

The spy looked forward to rest from his labors in I 
peace and safety. Little did he dream that the future ' 
had in store for him that which would have made him 
draw back in horror, could it have been revealed. 



IN THE TOILS. 69 

CHAPTER XII. 

IN THE TOILS. 

pORTUNATE would it have been for Philip Henson, 

hadGren. Dodge made good his promise. A leaf full 
of horror and suffering would have never been recorded 
ill his life. It is a leaf which cannot be contemplated 
without a shudder; But so it had been decreed, and it 
lay in the path of his duty. 

The spy's dream of comfort and ease was rudely 
broken. 

He had been resting only a few days when Gren. 
Dodge summoned him into his presence. 

'« Philip,*' sfiid he, **I told you if you would make the 
trip you have just made, I would give you your liberty 
and relieve you from undergoing any more dangers, 
but I must ask you to make one more trip in the in- 
terest of the army and of the Union. I must have 
information about the movements of fighting General 
Forrest. I can get no reliable information as to where 
he is, and my scouts cannot penetrate his line. You 
have all the papers from the commanding Generals of 
the Southern army that a man needs, and I want you 
to make this last trip for me." 

The scout agreed to do what Gen. Dodge desired, 
and once more took his life in his hands for the sake 
of the cause. He was ready in short order, and was 

6 



70 THE SOUTHERN UNION SPY. 

on the road. He passed through Corinth, where there 
were a few soldiers, and stopped several days at his 
home. 

The trip to Tupelo and to West Point was easily 
made. Forrest and Ferguson were over towards the 
Mississippi river, and few soldiers were in that neigh- 
borhood. 

Henson started for Decatur, and progressed 
smoothly until he was within a few miles of the Federal 
pickets, when he was surprised by Col. Wni. John- 
son, and was placed under arrest. Once more he met 
Gen. Roddy, who had given him trouble before, and 
was destined to bo his bete noir^ the cause of all his 
misfortunes. 

Col. Johnson conveyed him under arrest to Gen. 
Roddy's headquarters about four miles from Hills- 
borough, and charged him with being a Yankee spy, 
despite the fact that he had passes from Gens. Polk 
and Forrest. 

Roddy was again in a bad humor. This time it 
was because neither Forrest, Gholson, nor Polk would 
allow Henson to report to him and he determined to 
make it hot for the spy. He was placed under heavy 
guard while a consultation was held as to what dispo- 
sition should be made of him. A decision was 
reached to send him under guard to Gen. S. D. Lee 
at Tuscaloosa, Ala. 

Gen. Roddy wrote ii letter to Lee. It was couched 
in no uncertain terms and stated positively that Hen- 
son was a Yankee spy and that he could prove it, 



IN THE TOILS. 71 

He added by way of a clincher that he was the worst 
man in the Confederacy and that he ought to be court- 
martialed and shot. He also added that if he (Gen. 
Lee) did not have him shot he (Gen. Eoddy) would 
kill him if he ever passed through his lines. 

This was an excellent recommendation to carry 
from one rebel general to another — excellent if one 
were tired of life. 

Roddy did not care to trust to this to make sure of 
his end, but before the prisoner started he remarked 
to the captain of the guard thai he wanted him to 
hurry back. There was a significance deeper than 
appears on the surface in these words. They meant 
something that every guard understood perfectly well. 

It was equivalent to ^^aying that there was no use in 
making the trip. It was easy enough to return with- 
out the prisoner and explain that he had attempted to 
escape and was shot. There was not a man who did 
not look upon Heuson as a dead man, but the inter- 
cessions of Col. Johnson, Capt. J. C. Polk and Capt. 
John Duncan who knew Henson saved his life. 

The toils were thickening around the faithful spy. 
Gen. Lee read the charges that Gen. Roddy had sent 
and prepared to act. Gen. Lee's staff officers were 
West Pointers and after examining Henson they 
agreed that he had better be put out of the way. 

A young lawyer, who was considered an expert in 
such matters, was sent to him and examined him. The 
spy's coolness and nerve stood him in good stead. 
Not the least excitement nor expression of fear even 



72 THE SOUTHERN UNION SPY. 

to the twitching of an muscle betrayed the anxiety 
of his heart. When he was told that he mast die he 
did not change color nor reveal a particle of terror. The 
young lawyer was deceived thoroughly and reported 
to Gen. Lee that he believed that the man was inno- 
cent. He added that he was splendid material for a 

spy- 

This was not sufficient to reverse the verdict, but a 
chance saved him. Gen. Lee^ had Henson brought 
into his room and asked him three questions. He and 
the young lawyer were the only ones who favored re- 
leasing him. He asked him if he was in a certain 
place on the Union line at a certain time. Henson 
said he was. He then asked him with regard to the 
contemplated movements of the Federal troops. He 
explained what he thought the troops would do and at 
the vei'y moment, as if by an interposition of Provi- 
dence, a telegram was received confirming the state- 
ment he made. 

Gen. Lee was convinced and saying that he thought 
Henson was the man that Gen Polk had spoken of, 
ordered his instant release and told him to report to 
Polk at Demopolis. On such slight things does human 
life sometimes turn. 

Before leaving, Gen. Lee told the scout to inform 
Gen. Polk of the feeling which Roddy entertained for 
him and get protection from him. 

Gen. Polk placed his own official indorsement on 
the back of the pass which Roddy was bound to re- 
spect, but bo accomplished his end in another way. 



IN THE TOILS. 73 

Gen. Polk also ordered Capt. Burton to convey Hen- 
son safely through Roddy's lines on his way back to 
the Federal forces. 

While Henson was under arrest, one of those pleas- 
ant incidents happened which give spice to life. Gen. 
Polk had had a Yankee spy hung — one Sam Gebbins 
who had paid the forfeit of his life for his zeal — and 
it so happened that the gallows were still standing. 
The scout occupied the same place Gebbins had had and 
the soldiers took particular delight in telling him how 
Gebbins swung off and in promising that the rope 
would fit his neck nicely, but they failed to make him 
flinch. 

Henson was free, but the beginning of the end was 
at hand. Gen. Roddy was following him with his per- 
sistent hate. The spy and Capt. Burton stopped at 
Tupelo to enable the latter to leave word with his wife 
that he was going on the trip. 

When at Tupelo Gen. Forrest returned with his en- 
tire force and Gen. Roddy telegraphed him that Hen- 
son was a Yankee spy traveling under the name of 
Hines. The spy was not dreaming of evil when Col. 
Strain stepped up to him and asked if his name was 
Hines. ^ 

**No, my name is Henson," was the response. 

** Consider yourself under arrest," said the Colonel. 

The prisoner was taken to Gen. Forrest's head- 
quarters and Adjutant-General Strait told him he was 
charged with being a spy by Roddy. Gen. Forrest 



74 THE SOUTHERN UNION SPY. 

never went to see him, but ordered him sent under 
guard to Meridian. 

Forrest had a summary way of disposing of men 
suspected of being spies, and Henson prepared to meet 
his fate, feeling certain it was near. He never faltered, 
however, and maintained his coolness and firm bearing. 
After three days of confinement at Meridian he was 
sent to Gen. Polk at Demopolis on the 24th of May. 

Until the 6th of June the suspected spy was held at 
Demopolis and then Maj. Denny, the provost marshal, 
said he had an order from Gen. Forrest to send him 
to Mobile. 

His star of fortune was on the decline and passed 
behind the cloud of a rebel prison. Only those who 
have been within the walls of one know what of suf- 
fering is involved in the word. 



IN A SOUTHERN WAR PRISON. 75 

CHAPTER XIII. 

IN A SOUTHERN WAR PRISON. 

THE Union spy had only death to look forward to. 

He had been in critical positions. His life had fre- 
quently been in extremest danger. But never was the 
chance of life so small as it was then. 

He was under arrest. He was charged with being a 
spy by a General who had shown that he was deter- 
mined to have him killed. He was in the hands of a 
man who was impetuous and determined, and who 
never hesitated to do what he thought was good for his 
cause. He was on his way to the far South in the 
heart of a hostile country under a charge that aroused 
the most relentless bate and justified any action, no 
matter how cruel and hasty. There was absolutely no 
hope for him as far as human judgment could deter- 
mine. 

Yet under all of this dark shadow he did not lose 
courage, but faced the situation as a brave man should. 
The slightest sign of weakness, of fear or of flinching 
would have been his immediate death warrant. It 
would have been taken as a confession of guilt. 

Henson was placed in charge of Maj. David L. Cum- 
mins, and started on a journey which is branded into 
his memory. Maj. Cummins was in the secret serv- 
ice under Gen, Polk. 



76 THE SOUTHERN UNION SPY. 

His first act showed how Henson was to be regarded 
by the men into whose hands he had fallen. He was 
no common prisoner. If the proof of the fact that he 
was a spy, should be forthcoming, he was an extraor- 
dinary prisoner, and a spy who had deceived the 
Confederate generals as no other spy ever did, and 
who had achieved, as they knew, feats that commanded 
their wonder and admiration, if it also aroused their 
bitterest detestation and desire for revenge. 

He was taken to a blacksmith shop and there power- 
ful shackles were riveted to his ankles, as if they had 
been wood or iron. They were fastened together by 
three heavy wrought iron links which permitted 
a play of only six inches to hislimbs. Maj. Cummins 
states over his own signature that these hobbles were 
extra heavy and of wrought iron forged for the occa- 
sion. Heavy wrought iron handcuffs, permitting a 
play of only two inches to his hands, were placed on 
his wrists. His guards were determined that he should 
not escape them through any fault of their own. 

Thus nianacled as a wild beast, the scout and his 
guard started for Mobile. The evidence of what 
Henson suffered on the trip, of how he was regarded 
as a daring, desperate and dangerous spy comes, not 
from his own lips only, but from the lips of his 
captors. As the train moved along, stopping at the 
stations, the report was general and spread in every 
direction, that on board of it was a famous Union spy. 
The news traveled faster than the train, and crowds 
looked at him with curiosity and hatred. 




THE SPY IN CHAINS. 



IN A SOUTHERN WAR PRISON. 77 

The report had reached Meridian, where were many- 
Confederate soldiers, and it roused them to the highest 
pitch of indignation and resentment. When the train 
reached the depot, the soldiers were there to meet it. 
They demanded of Maj. Cummins that he give the 
spy to them to treat as they thought he deserved to be 
treated. Maj. Cummins refused to do so, and the 
mob, furious with passion, rushed on him, overpower- 
ing him, and dragged away the chained and helpless 
Henson. 

Now certainly his doom was sealed. Not a friendly 
face was in the scowling throng. Nothino: could be 
detected but thirst for his blood and the unchecked 
spirit of revenge. That he could be saved was incred- 
ible. No other man suspected of being a spy had 
ever escaped such a mob. 

But Henson escaped death. Maj. Cummins saw 
that he could do nothing, but instead of allowing the 
prisoner to meet whatever fate might befall him, he 
set about to rescue him. He found the Colonel in 
command and demanded his prisoner, showing the 
order from Gen. Forrest that he be conveyed to Mo- 
bile. The Colonel with hesitation and reluctance in- 
terposed, and by command forced the mob to give up 
the prisoner. 

They could not kill him and wreak their vengeance 
in that way, but they could abuse him to their hearts' 
content. They cursed, denounced and tormented him, 
pouring the vilest denunciations on his head. Soldiers 
and citizens passing him as he stood defenseless and 



78 THE SOtJTHERN UNION SPY. 

Jbound, squirted tobacco juice in his face and over his 
person, or took the quids from their mouths and dashed 
them into his face. Contempt could find no stronger 
expression of its depth » nor hate of its intensity. A 
guard of soldiers protected him from violence until 
the train for which they had stopped to await had arrived, 
and they continued their journey to Mobile. All along 
the road the treatment of the suspected spy was the 
same. Southern citizens and soldiers vied with each 
in showing to what lengths their abuse could go. From 
their point of view, nothing was bad enough for a man, 
and a Southern man, who lifted a finger for the Union, 
and particularly who would spy for it. Some said 
hang him, others, burn him and others, shoot him. 
All agreed that there was but one fate adequate for 
him and that was death. 

On the trip, in addition to the hobbles and handcuffs, 
other precautions were taken to prevent escape. He 
was not put in a passenger coach, but in a freight car. 
He was placed in a car filled with poultry coops, on top 
of a pile of them. He had only one companion in 
the car, and that was a fierce English bull dog. During 
the night trip the dog lay on the floor watching 
the prisoner with greedy eyes. Not a motion escaped 
as far as he could see in the dark, and Henson knew 
that to fall from the coops meant an immediate and a 
horrible death by the teeth of the dog. He was so 
chained that he could do nothing to defend himself, and 
the jolting of the car threatened every moment to 
throw him to the floor. That night was equal to a year. 



y 




THE ''SWEAT BOX 



IN A SOUTHERN WAB PBI80N. 79 

On the morning of the 7th of June, Henson and his 
guards arrived in Mobile, after this eventful journey. 
He was taken at once, with the same abuse from sol- 
diers and citizens to the provost marshal, Wm. H. 
Ketchuro, who placed him under the strictest watch in 
his guard house, where he remained until July 4th. 

What he had passed through was as nothing com- 
pared with what he was to pass through. The hobbles 
and chain were not considered sufficient protection 
against escape, nor sufficiently galling, and Major 
Harris in charge of the prisoners ordered a ball and 
chain placed upon him. In accordance with this order 
a ball weighing 64 pounds, and a chain of proportion- 
ate weight and eight feet in length was forged to the 
ball and to his ankles. 

On July 4th, the anniversary of the day of inde- 
pendence and freedom, one of the features of the cele- 
bration in Mobile was the parading of Henson through 
the streets loaded with manacles and chains as the great 
Yankee spy to give the populace a chance to taunt and 
abuse him. On this day, too, he was placed in close 
confinement. The guard house was not safe enough, 
and he was transferred to the jail, and inside of that to 
the ** Hitchcock Press," known also as the "sweat 
box.** This was a small apartment within the jail 10 
feet square, 8 feet high, and entered by a 4 foot door. 
It was made of rough heavy timbers, and had no 
means of ventilation. As if the chains he already had 
upon him were not enough, he was chained with the 



80 THE SOUTHERN UNION SPY. 

" sweat box" chain so that he could not move, and 
was left there alone. 

The imprisoned scout was subjected to the most 
brutal and barbarous treatment, as a Confederate oflScer 
testifies, and a private soldier who had him in custody, 
one Louis Galle, states that «« never in all my experi- 
ence during my four years' service in the rebellion did 
I see, know or hear tell of as many indignities, curses 
epithets and taunts being borne by a human being from 
the hands of all, both citizens and soldiery, and if they 
at any time could have discovered any tangible evidence 
tending to establish the charge, they would undoubt- 
edly have mobbed him." 

Henson demanded and prayed for a trial, employed 
lawyers at great expense to defend his case and to en- 
deavor to get a hearing for him but in vain. The 
evidence desired to convict him could not he found, 
and under one excuse or another, while his life was 
wearing away in his confinement and sufifering, the 
trial was postponed. They corresponded with Gen. 
Bedford Forrest, who had brought the charges against 
him, and promised that he should be convicted, but not 
a scrap of evidence was discovered. Henson had never 
taken a note or written a line to testify against him- 
self, and had not even told His wife that he was acting 
for the Federal army. 

He was looked upon as a monster, however, and 
people came from far and near to gaze into his little 
den, on the Yankee spy. Human frame and flesh 
could not long sustain such treatment, and he grew 



IN A SOUTHERN WAR PRISON. 81 

weaker and weaker. If he did not meet his death by 
bullet or rope the imprisoment would bring it 
slowly, but no less surely. His diet consisted of three 
small salt fish and a small piece of corn bread without 
salt for breakfast, and a half pint of rice and corn bread 
for supper. 

It was finally decided to transfer him to Meredian, 
and the order came from Gen. S. D. Lee to that effect 
There were two reasons for this. One was that Gen. 
Granger had taken Fort Morgan, and the Confederates 
thought the city would fall, and the other was that the 
Doctor ordered his removal. 

This order came about in a peculiar way, and yet 
not so peculiar either, when one considers what money 
will do. D. C. Anderson, a lawyer at Mobile, was em- 
ployed to aid the prisoner, who received money from 
time to time from his wife at Rienzi. Henson offered 
him $1,000 to obtain his release, and he promised to 
make the attempt to do so. Maj. Harris overheard the 
offer, and told him that he was throwing his money 
away, as Anderson had no influence with the military, 
and that he, for $500 would agree to put him where he 
could reach the Federal gunboats. Henson closed the 
bargain at once, and having sent to his wife for $1,000, 
countermanded the dispatch, and asked her to send him 
$500 in gold. He thought the matter over, and it oc- 
curred to him that it would be the easiest matter to 
take his money, and pretend to take him to the gun- 
boats, but to drop him overboard or shoot him on the 
way. He changed his mind, and told Maj. Harris that 



o2 THE 80UTHEBN UNION SPY. 

he had decided not to take the trip, but preferred to 
remain where he was to running the risk of escape. 
Meanwhile be handed over the $500 to the physician in 
order to secure his removal. The physician kept his 
word. 

When the fall of the city was expected there were 
about 1,000 desperate characters, deserters and crimi- 
nals, in the jails of Mobile, and they were all re- 
leased to go into the rifle pits except Philip Hcnson, 
who was retained in his *« sweat box." 

The scout was taken to Meridian on the 9th of Octob- 
ber. He fully expected a court-martial and as a result 
a sentence of death. On the way up he determined to 
end his misery and jump from the car window at the 
first opportunity. In stretching his arms he snapped 
the chain that bound his wrists together and in an in- 
stnnt the bayonets of the guards were against his 
breast. His explanation that the breaking of the' 
chain was an accident was not taken and the vigilance 
of the o:uards was redoubled. 

Even the relief of the court-martial was not given 
him, however, but he remained in the stockade with 
the shackles on until February 17, 1865. 

Then his case reached a climax. Gen. Taylor said 
that Henson had to have a trial or be released. Gen. 
Forrest admitted that he could not find the proof to 
convict him and after a consultation it was decided to 
draft him into the army. His shackles were taken off 
at last, and with free limbs once more he was taken to 
the conscript camp at Enterprise. He was given his 



IN A SOUTHERN WAR PRISON. 83 

choice of regiments and he selected the old bloody 
26th Mississippi. The regiment were in Virginia and 
the trip gave some chance of escape. 

In charge of Col. Rogers he started for Castle Thun- 
der, at Richmond, going via Demopolis and Selma. 
At Selma the kind-hearted Colonel winked at his 
escape, and after nine months of terrible suffering 
he was once more at liberty. 

There was yet a dangerous trip of 300 miles to make 
before the safety of the Union lines could be reached, 
and that, too, through a country infested with ene- 
mies. The scout walked the 20 miles from Selma to 
Hamburg and went to the house of his former friend 
and employer, Thomas Turnbow, where he was gladly 
allowed to rest a few days, 

Turnbow had a nephew at home on the retired list 
with his papers. The spy offered him $1,000 in Con- 
federate money for the papers he needed and ob- 
tained them. Then he turned his face for home. 
There could be no doubt of the result if caught again, 
and all his vigilance was exercised to provide against 
it. He traveled almost entirely at night and through 
the least frequented roads and woods. 

His weakened constitution could not bear the labor 
and exposure incident to the trip, and when he reached 
his sister's house, in Blunt county. North Alabama, 
he was confined to his bed with a severe attack of 
rheumatism. 

Tarrying was dangerous and he was carried to Red 
Hill to Yancey Noble's and bis nephew and a squad of 



84 THE SOUTHERN UNION SPY. 

soldiers conveyed him through the mouatains to the 
river where the Federal gunboats were expected. For 
two days he lay on the river bank before a boat ar- 
rived, and then he was picked up and taken to Bridge- 
port and was turned over to Commodore Forrest, a 
cousin of his late friend Gen. Bedford Forrest. This 
Forrest although a Union man, had the greatest admira- 
tion for Gen. Bedford Forrest, and when Hensou de- 
scribed to him how he had deceived him and escaped 
from his clutches, the Union Forrest promptly called 
him a liar and a rebel spy. Once more he was under 
arrest and was sent to Chattanooga, where he demanded 
to be sent to Gen. Dodge. He was passed on to Gen. 
Thomas, at Nashville, and was given a pass and trans- 
portation to Gen. Dodge's headquarters at St. Louis. 

Gen. Dodge had given his spy up long since and be- 
lieved him dead, and it was as if the dead had arisen 
when Philip Henson walked into his headquarters at 
the Lindell Hotel. ** Well, Phil," said he after con- 
gratulati^ng him on his won<lerful escape, ** the rope 
has not been made yet to hang you." 

It was not enough that the spy should suffer alone, 
but his wife also was called upon to share his suffer- 
ings. Gen. Forrest did nothing half way. She was 
arrested under his order at Kienzi, in January, 1865, 
and was torn from her home with an infant son and in 
delicate health, to be sent to Verona. She asked to 
be sent to her brother's house at Cotton Gin under 
promise not to return home and to consider herself 
under arrest, but the General refused the request. 



IN A SOUTHERN WAR PRISON. 85 

She was not aware of her husband's occupation and, 
therefore, spoke the truth as far as she knew when she 
declared he was not a Union spy. 

The citizens and her neighbors signed a petition to 
the General and finally the soldiers petitioned him, 
stating that she had always treated them generously, 
and he relented and allowed her to go to her brother. 
When she asked Gen. Forrest what would be done 
with her husband, he coolly replied that he would be 
hung. Mrs. Henson was under arrest for four months. 

Col. Henson remained at St. Louis several days and 
then started South to obtain, if possible, the release 
of his wife. Gen. Dodge gave him a letter to Gen. 
Thomas, at Nashville, and that gallant soldier gave 
him a letter to Gen. Hatch, another brave and gener- 
ous commander, who was at Eastport with a large force 
of cavalry. As soon as he read Gen. Thomas' letter 
and learned the circumstances, he sent Col. Coon with 
a cavalry regiment to Bienzi to learn where Mrs. Hen- 
son was. She was not there and he returned. 

Soon after she arrived at her home and sent a courier 
to notify her husband. Gen. Hatch ordered Col. 
Coon to take his regiment and escort Mrs. Henson to 
Eastport. 

Of the meeting between the husband, who was 
thought to be dead, and his wife it is needless to write 
a word. Their joy can be imagined. They remained 
in the Federal lines until the war was over and then 
returned to their old home at Eienzi, to take up their 

6 



86 THE SOUTHERN UNION SPT. 

lives there where they had been interrupted and to try 
to make a living. 

In March, 1867, Col. Henson removed to Corinth 
and published the Corinth Republican, the most influ- 
ential Union paper in the State. In September of the 
same year he sold his interest in the paper and moved 
to a little farm about three miles from the city, where 
he now lives. The house was occupied during the 
siege of Corinth by Gen. Halleck as headquarters. 
Col. Henson sent the insulating cups which were on the 
portico, to the battle ground of Shiloh during the cele- 
bration of that event, where they were exhibited as 
relics. The old scout and his wife are in moderate 
circumstances, but enjoy health and strength and have 
two sons now grown, Philip Edgar and Capt. Wm. 
Odd Henson. 

It is somewhat remarkable that after his eventful 
career and his services to the Union cause in the ca- 
pacity of a spy. Col. Henson should have since lived 
peaceably and happily in the South, and should now 
enjoy the respect and friendship of his neighbors, but 
there is no more popular man in his country. 

This fact speaks volumes for his own character, and 
proves, as nothing else could, that the war is over. 



SOME CONVINCING PROOFS. 87 

CHAPTER XIV. 

SOME CONVINCING PROOFS. 

IT IS possible that there may be doubt as to facts 
stated in this sketch, and an inclination to believe 
that the deeds and services of Philip Henson may be 
exaggerated. 

It is worth while and at the same time is interesting 
to note the opinion of him and his services held by 
Federal oiBScers, whom he served during his career as 
a scout and spy. There is none with whom he held 
closer relations and whose confidence he enjoyed more 
thoroughly than Gen. G. M. Dodge, and his letter to 
Gen. Geo. H. Thomas, written March 31, 1865, is im- 
portant on this subject. It is given below : 

i 

Headquarters, Department of the Missouri, 1 
St. Louis, Mo., March 31, 1866. i 

Ma},'Oen, Geo. H, Thomas^ Comd^g Dept. of the Cumberland: 

General: This will be handed you by Philip Henson, who will 
state his business, and I solicit for him such aid as you can con- 
sistently give him. 

I can vouch for Mr. Henson ; he was probably one of the best — 
if not the very best — men we ever had in our employ, and the in- 
formation given us by him, in all our campaigns, was of incal- 
culable benefit to us; he never failed us, and in all our campaigns 
in the Southwest, up to the Atlantic campaign, he performed ser- 
vice that no other man would; he has suffered almost death for us, 
and deserves our assistauQe. I have no hesitation in endorsing him 



88 THE SOUTHERN UNION SPY. 

fully; implicit confidence can be placed in him. The men, Cas- 
sett and Fennell, at Corinth, who endeavored falsely and traitor- 
ously to swear away his life, should be brought to punishment 
for it. 

I am, G^eneral, 
Very respectfully, 

Your obt. servt., 

G. M. DODGB, 

Major- Ghneral. 



This high opinion of Henson is still retained, as the 
following letter, written in August of the present year, 
testifies : 

No. I Broadway, Nbw York City, 1 
August 31, 1887. f 

Philip Mensotij Esq.j Corinthj Miss.: 

Dear Sir — It will be impossible for me to be present at the 
G. A. B. Encampment in St. Louis. Your efficient services as a 
scout (probably the best who ever went through our lines), are a 
matter of official record in Washington, and have time and again 
received my commendation and elicited my efforts in your behalf. 
Not only that, but I received letters from Gen. Grant, at the 
time you were sending me information from the South, stating that 
my reports as to the movements of the rebel troops were so 
accurate, and found afterwards to be so correct, that he was 
anxious to know who acted for me, and I named to him you among 
others, who were inside of the enemy's lines so long for me. You 
are at liberty to show this to any of my friends of the Grand Army ; 
but I do not think you will need it to give you a standing among 
them. Yours truly, 

G. M. Dodge. 



Gen. Samuel Gilbert is equally unqualified in his 
statements regarding Henson, and the following letter 



SOME CONVINCING PROOFS. 89 

to Gen. Tuttle, shows how thoroughly he appreciated 
his services : 

Decatur, Ala., August 26, 1887. 

Oen. TuUlBf St, Louis, Mo.: 

1 have great pleasure in stating that I am personally acquainted 
with Philip Henson. I was on the staff of Gen. Rosecrans, when 
Mr. Henson was employed by him as chief of scouts, which posi- 
tion Mr. Henson filled with great honor to himself and of incalcu- 
lable benefit to our army. I know of his performing some of the 
most daring and dangerous deeds to obtain information, i/vhich was 
of vital importance to our commanding generals — deeds which no 
other man could have done successfully. I most cheerfully 
recommend him to all lovers of the Union as a trustworthy, noble 
old soldier. 

Samuel Gilbert, 
Late Brig.'Oen. U. S. A. and Vol. 



Gen. Edward Hatch is another soldier who is fami- 
liar with Philip Henson's record, and he speaks of him 
and his services as of the highest value : 

Santa Fb, New Mexico, April 14, 1881. 

W* M, Inge, Corinth^ Miss.: 

Dear Sir: — The facts as stated in Philip Henson's are in a 
measure known to me personally. I believe all to be true. 

I knew Mr. Henson as a brave, fearless and exceedingly valuable 
scout. During the time he was ilnder my command he rendered 
service of great importance and furnished valuable and reliable in- 
formation to the Government troops. To Mr. Henson, the grati- 
tude of the country is due for his services during the war of the 
Rebellion. It will be most gratifying to me should I learn he has 
received pecuniary recognition of his services from the coimtiy. 



90 THE SOUTHERN UNION SFT. 

He richly deserves this attention. * His life has been repeatedly In 
danger from the element adverse to the cause he advocated ; while 
he has suffered seriously In loss of property. 

Very respectfully, 

Your obt. servant, 

Edward Hatch, 
Brevet Mc^, -General. 

One other short letter ends the list of those which 
are given. It is as follows : 

Headquarters District of the Etowah, Chattanooga, Tenn., \ 
Provost Marshal's Office, I 

March 25, 1865. J 
Capt, Serg.f Aest. Pro. Mar. Gen., D. C: 

Sir — The bearer of this, Phillip Henson, escaped from'the rebels 
at Meridian, Miss., and came through to our lines. Was formerly 
a guide for Gen. Bosecrans, afterwards a guide for Gen. Dodge, 
and is now very desirous of rejoining Gen. Dodge In whose em- 
ploy he was when captured. 

Very Respectfully 

Tour Obedient Servant, 

A. H. BoLPH, 
Capt. 14th U. S. C, As8t. Pro. Mar., D. E. 

favorable testimony from the other side in a ease 
is always of greater value than any other, because 
it is prejudiced, if prejudiced at all, in the opposite 
direction. Merely as a matter of interest, and not as 
proof, for proof is not needed, as showing the treat- 
ment to which spies were subjected, and particularly 
the treatment which Philip Henson received during his 
captivity, the following affidavits are given, verbatim. 
They are from confederates. The first is from Maj. 



SOME CONVINCING PROOFS. 91 

David L. Cummins, who conveyed [Henson while a 
prisoner to Mobile and tells the story of his journey 
and subsequent treatment : 

State of Alabama, ) 

County of Mobile. { 

This is to certify that I, David L. Cammiiis, on or about the 5th 
of June, A. D. 1864, whilst engaged in the secret service depart- 
ment of the Confederate States of America under Major Dennie, 
provost marshal general for this district, I became acquainted 
with a gentleman who was turned over and placed in my custody 
whom I afterwards learned was Philip Henson, charged with being 
a Federal spy. He was placed in my custody under orders from 
Major Dennie, to be transported to the city of Mobile, heavily 
ironed and closely guarded, which instructions I carried out by 
carrying him to the shop of a smith and having forged for the occa- 
sion a pair of extra heavy wrought iron hobbles, connected 
together by three large wrought iron links, which permitted a play 
of about six inches to his limbs, and in addition, I placed upon his 
hands or wrists a large pair of heavy handcu^s, which confined 
the arms to a play of about two inches. On the evening of the 
morning that I had the irons placed upon the prisoner, to wit, 
5th of June, 18G4, I started with Mr. Henson to Mobile, and 
whilst en route for the city we were compelled to change cars at 
Meridian. It was known at the latter place that one of the most 
daring and dangerous of Federal spys was on board, and imme- 
diately upon the arrival of the train a mob of soldiery, C. S. A., 
made a rush for the train and demanded the person of the pris- 
oner, which request I firmly refused, they being highly excited and 
enraged, forcibly and with arms overcame my resistance and took 
charge of said prisoner, Philip Henson, and would, without doubt, 
have mobbed and assassinated him but for the appearance of the 
colonel commanding, to whom I appealed for protection of pris- 
oner, at same time exhibiting to him the written orders of Major 
Dennie, who, after some hesitation, commanded the troops to re- 
lease or rather restore said prisoner to me. I then carried Mr. 
Henson to the depot of M. & O. R. R. and took train for Mobile. 
The above facts in regard to our trip are merely the main occur- 



92 THE SOUTHERN UNION SPT. 

rences. I could pot and would not attempt to enumerate the 
insults, the indignities and harsh treatment he received at every 
depot. The soldiery of the C. S. A., wherever met, after learning 
the charge against prisoner, as they passed him would spit their 
amber and tobacco spittle over person and face of prisoner, and 
would curse, taunt and ridicule him. 

On 6th of June I arrived with Mr. Henson in Mobile and deliv- 
ered him into custody of Provost Marshal Major Wm. H. Ketchum. 
The prisoner was then carried to guard-house, remaining there 
about thirty days. The prisoner, at all times and every day, de- 
manded and pleaded for a trial which, so far as I know, was never 
granted, but always refused to prisoner for the purpose of corre- 
sponding with General Bedford Forrest, who had preferred the 
charge. 

Mr. Henson was then removed to what was at that time called 
the ** Hitchcock press." I frequently visited him there, as he was 
regarded as such a desperate, dangerous character that I frequently 
witnessed his confinement and treatment, which barbarous and 
brutal, but at time regarded by all of us as both humane and 
necessary. 

David L. Cummins. 
State of Alabama, ) 

County of Mobile, 5 

This day came and personally appeared before me, the under- 
signed Circuit Court Clerk in and for the State and county afore- 
said, Mr. David L. Cummins, who, after being first duly sworn, 
deposes and says on oath that all the facts contained in the fore- 
going instrument are true and correct. 

Sworn to and subscribed in my presence this, the 20th May, 1881. 

B. E Jones, 
Clerk Circuit Court. 

Serg. Louis Galle, in whose custody Henson was 
placed, tells in the following affidavit how he was treated 
during his imprisonment at Mobile : 

State of Alabama, 

County of Mobile. 

This is to certify that on 6th June, 1864, I, Louis Galle, was 
engaged in the service of the Confederate States of America, as 



..! 



SOME CONVINCING PROOFS. 93 

Orderly Sergeant of Co. K. (Cavalry), 15th Alabama Regiment, and 
on that day, as near as I can remember, one Mr. Philip Henson 
was placed in my custody by Major Harris, Commander ol camp 
correction, under charge of being a spy, and I was instructed to 
place upon a ball and chain. I carried him around to a black- 
smith shop and had placed upon him an iron ball weighing about 
sixty-four (64) pounds, and chain of proportionate weight about (8) 
eight feet in length, and then carried him under orders to prison 
where he remained for some time, and I then removed him under 
orders from the prison house to the "Hitchcock Press," commonly 
known as the "sweat box," which was about 10 ft. square, 8 ft. 
high, of heavy, rough timbers and it was entered by a 4 ft. door. 
This sweat box was on inside of the jail and was only used in ex- 
treme emergencies, for it was close and small with no ventilation, 
and upon placing Mr. Henson in said sweat box we chained him 
with the sweat box chain which prevented him from moving and he 
was forced to remain there alone, and only liberated from there at 
one time, so far as I remember, and that was on 4th of July, 1864, 
when the great Yankee spy was in heavy irons and chains paraded 
in front of the assembled populace of Mobile, Ala., that was the 
manner in which we saw proper to celebrate that day. 

The prisoner, Mr. Henson, was certainly treated with extreme 
crnelty and harshness on all occasions and never in all my experi- 
ence during my four years' service in the Rebellion did see, know 
or hear tell of as many indignities, curses, epithets and taunts 
being borne by a human being from hands of all, both citizens and 
soldiery, and if they could have at any time discovered any tangi- 
ble evidence tending to establish the charge they would undoubtedly 
have mobbed him. 

Louis Galls. 
State op Alabama, 

County op Mobile. 

This day came and personally appeared before me, the under- 
signed circuit clerk of the aforesaid State and County, Mr. Louis 
Galle, who after being first duly sworn, deposes and says on oath 
that all the facts contained in the foregoing instrument, of his own 
knowledge, is true and correct. 

Sworn to and subscribed before me this 20th May, 1881. 

B. E. Jokes, 
Clerk Circuit CwrU 



94 THE SOUTHERN UNION SPY. 

With reference to his imprisonment and the efforts 
made to obtain his release, Mr. D. C. Anderson, a 
lawyer of Mobile, furnishes interesting information in 
the affidavit given below : 



:! 



State of Alabama, 

Mobile County. 

At the request of Mr. PhiMp Henson, I make the f one wing state- 
ment of facts teaching my recollections of his arrest and impris- 
onment in the city of Mobile, in the latter part of the late war. I 
first saw him in the month of Jane, 186i, while under military 
arrest, by order of some officer of the Confederate army. He was, 
then, I believe, at the office of the Provost Marshal of this city. 
I was employed to defend him, in conjunction with John HaU, Esq , 
at that time a practising lawyer. At some time after that, and 
probably within a week or ten days, Bobert H. Smith, Esq., one of 
the leading lawyers at this bar, was employed to assist in the 
defense. 

The charge against Mr. Henson, according to my recollection, 
was, that he was a spy in the service of the Federal army. From 
my examination of his case, I believed that the charge was not 
well founded, and on his part, and on that of his counsel an inves- 
tigation was urged by us. The prejudice against him, with the 
military men, was very great; and the conviction was strongly ex- 
pressed by them, that he was guilty, and the trial was from time to 
time postponed, to enable them to bring witnesses here from 
North Alabama and perhaps Mississippi, who could prove his guilt. 

I visited him by permission of General Maury, Commander of 
the Post, on several occasions, and always found him closely con- 
fined and guarded at a large cotton warehouse and press, known 
as Hitchcock's Press. When I saw him, he was in irons, as other 
prisoners were, charged with a similar offense. 

He was not tried here, as I remember, for the want of testimony 
on the part of the Confederate States. I do not remember how 
long he was kept in the city, nor to what point he was removed; 
nor do I know by what means he was discharged. That Mr. Hen- 
son paid me fees for my service as his attorney, I have no doubt; 



SOME CONVINCING PROOFS. 95 

bat I have no memoranda by which I can be certain of the amount . 
I remember taking an active interest In his defense during the 
period of his imprisonment in this city, and the impression yet 
remains that his confinement was severe and rigorous. 

The foregoing statement is made from memory, only, — with no 
written memorandum of the facts, eitcept a letter written by me to 
Mrs. Henson on 2nd of July, 1864, in reference to her husband. 
But from my best recollection, I believe the statements of facts 
are correct. 

D. C. Anderson. 
The State of Alabama,) 
Mobile County. J 

I, Richard E. Jones, Clerk of the Circuit Court of Mobile 
County, do hereby certify that the foregoing was subscribed 
and sworn to before me by D. C. Anderson on this 19th day 
of May, 1881. Witness my hand and the seal of said Cir- 
cuit Court at'Mobile on this the 19th day of May, A. D. 1881. 

R. E. Jones, 

Clerk Circuit Court. 



Now a few words with regard to Mrs. Henson's ar- 
rest are not out of place, and her own sworn state- 
ment will be found immediately following : 

The United States of America, ) 
Northern District of Mississippi. ) 

This day personally appeared before me, J. M. Martin, Clerk of 
the Circuit Court, Alcoro County, State of MisMsslppi, Celestine 
Henson, who being by me first duly sworn, says under oath: That 
in the month of January, A. D. 1865, Captain Pointer and Lieutenant 
Davis of the Confederate States Army came to her house in the 
County of Alcorn and State of Misslssispi with a company of 
soldiers, and arrested her by the order of Lt. Gen. N. B. Forrest, of 
the Confederate States Army, and carried her under guard to the 
headquarters of Gen. Forrest at Verona, Mississippi. At the time 
of my arrest I was in very delicate health and I suffered very much 
from the rigors and cold of winter. I was detained and kept under 



96 ' THE SOUTHERN UNION SPY. 

arrest for two months. No charges were ever preferred against 
me, nor was I ever granted any trial, although I frequently de 
manded one, and demanded the cause of my arrest. 

While I was under arrest the guard for a day and night had charge 
of my trunk and when it was returned to me it was broken open 
and rifled of its contents which was very valuable. When my hus- 
band, Phillip Henson, was under arrest and in conflnement in Mobile, 
Alabama, charged with being a Union spy, I paid Gen. Rubin Davis 
of Aberdeen, Mississippi, eight hundred dollars in greenback 
money to assist in his defense, and I paid another attorney at law in 
Mobile, Alabama, by the name of D. C. Anderson, between four and 
five hundred dollars in gold for the same purpose, the exact amount 
I cannot state, but I am positive it was as much as four hundred 
dollars. When I visited my husband, during his confinement in 
Mobile, the authorities of that city arrested me as a Union spy and 
detained me under arrest for three days. During my husband's con- 
finement I expended necessarily large sums of money in addition 
to the above. In his defense I am confident I expended as much as 
fifteen hundred dollars, in addition to the amount I paid Davis 
and Anderson in my husband's defense. ^ 

Cblestins Hknson. 
Sworn to and subscribed 

before me this, the 28th 

day of May, A. D. 1881. 
x:=55v J. M. MARTIN, CUrk. 
{^i^^y J- ^- THOMPSON. D. C. 

The statement of a neighbor of Mrs. Henson cor- 
roborates in every particular her own statement and is 
important as describing her experience : 

The United States op America, ") 

Northern District of Mississippi, j 

This day personally appeared before me, J. M. Martin, Clerk of 
the Circuit Court of Alcorn county, State of Mississippi, Mts. 
Nannie Neely, to me personally known, who, being duly sworn, 
says under oath that in January, A. D. 1865, Captain Pointer andLt. 



SOME CONVINCING PROOFS. ' 97 

Davis of the Confederate States army came to the house of Philip 
Henson, in the county and State aforesaid, with a company of 
Confederate soldiers and arrested Celestine Henson, wife of 
Philip Henson, by order of Lt. -General N. B. Forest of the Con- 
federate army, and carried her under guard to the head-quarters 
of said general at Verona, Mississippi. That it was cold, freezing 
weather at the time she was arrested and carried off, and she 
was in extremely delicate health. Philip Henson was at this 
time under arrest in Meridian, Mississippi, charged with being a 
Union spy. That she knows that Mrs. Celestine ^Henson expended 
between nine hundred and a thousand dollars in gold in defense of 
her husband, Philip Henson, while he was under arrest charged 
with being a Union spy, and in addition to that she expended be- 
tween fifteen hundred and two thousand dollars in Confederate 
money in his defense. That at the time of Mrs. Celestine Hen- 
son's arrest they detained her from her home between three and 
four months. 

Sworn to and subscribed Nannie S. Neely, before me this De- 
cember the 6th, A. D. 1881. 

J. M. Martin, 
s;^) Circuit Clerk. 



Nothing further is required to substantiate the asser- 
tion that Philip Henson stands alone in his career as 
a spy. There is no other living spy that can point to 
a record of danger, hardship and success comparable 
with his achievements, and yet, although he is old and 
is in extremely moderate circumstances, and although 
those who recognize his services, have moved to have 
him recompensed by the government, he has never re- 
ceived a dollar for his losses or aid to the Union cause. 

It is something, however, to have these services 
placed for the first time before his comrades and the 
American people that his merits may be recognized, 

[the end.] 



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